The Annual BSP Vaka Iti was a hit at Muri lagoon, with beautiful conditions making for a great day’s racing.

Around 60 excited students from Papaaroa College, Titikaveka College and Apii Te Uki Ou took part in the event held a week ago, following some six weeks of training which saw some disruptions due to weather.

The teams raced over a longer course than the usual sprint across the lagoon, with a 1.5-kilometre triangle circuit proving a good challenge. 

Cook Islands Canoeing Association (CICA) steerers ensured the students just had to focus on paddling their hearts out.

The race starts were staggered to avoid any incidents, with teams paddling their hardest to stay ahead, or to overtake.

Papaaroa led the charge in the first race of the day for the mixed Year 9 race, with Apii Te Uki Ou putting in creditable performances with their Year 7 and 8 students also included in the mix, paddling their hearts out against the college students.

Titikaveka College dominated the Year 10 and 11 mixed races, with their Year 10 mixed taking the fastest time of the day in 8.08.34 minutes.

Papaaroa College went onto claim the titles for the Year 9 and Year 10 boy’s races, with Te Uki Ou girls paddling hard to screams on the shore to take the Year 9 and Year 10 girls titles.

Winning teams were presented with BSP trophies, and BSP swag of caps and hats also handed out to teams.

The junior training programmes, currently underway with both Te Tupu o Te Manava and Ngakau Toa Vaka, have also proven a success in developing junior talents, and this was evident with the skills shown by those students who are involved in the club programmes. Both clubs welcome any new inclusions to their junior programmes with weekly training sessions from Trader Jacks.

CICA wishes to acknowledge the efforts of the paddlers who assisted with coaching towards the competition, and those who volunteered on the day to ensure a successful event, and to BSP for their continued support.

Results

Year 9 Mix: 1. Papaaroa College - 8:26.21, 2. Titikaveka College - 8:47.09, 3. Apii Te Uki Ao 1 - 8:47.61, 4. Apii Te Uki Ao 2 - 8:58.28; Year 10 Mix: 1. Titikaveka College - 8:08.34, 2. Papaaroa College - 8:22.20; Year 11 Mix: 1. Titikaveka 1 - 8:13.04, 2. Titikaveka 2 - 8:16.67; Year 9 Boys: 1. Papaaroa College - 8:28.88, 2. Titikaveka College - 8:39.17, 3. Apii Te Uki Ao - 8:46.54; Year 10 Boys: 1. Papaaroa College Y10 - 8:15.93, 2. Papaaroa College - 8:28.88, 3. Titikaveka College - 8:39.17, 4. Apii Te Uki Ao- 8:46.54; Year 9 Girls: 1. Apii Te Uki Ao 2 - 8:59.02, 2. Apii Te Uki Ao 1 - 9:10.76, 3. Papaaroa College - 10:19.81; Year 10 Girls: 1. Apii Te Uki Ao 2 - Y9 - 8:59.02, 2. Papaaroa College Y10 - 9:07.33, 3. Apii Te Uki Ao 1 - Y9 - 9:10.76, 4. Papaaroa College - Y9 - 10:19.81.

• CICA