Tauranga Harbour Challenge 2006

Apr 1, 2006

Passengers onboard the Diamond Princess look-on as the 10th Tauranga Harbour Challenge gets underway.

A smaller then usual crowd this year, with just under 500 paddlers racing, due to the World Sprints finishing last week.

It was great to see some of the international teams from Italy, England, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and Australia join us out on the water.

Morning Races
The day started with near perfect conditions for the Womens and Mixed W6 and Mens W1/W2. Only a couple of crews didn't finish the morning race, because they forgot to attach their rudders properly before they started.

Our champions for the morning races are

W6 - 25km
Open Mixed  - Goodyear Mixed - Hei Matau Paddlers - 1:47.03
Master Mixed - Arongatahi - Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club - 1:50.04
Open Women - Waitakere Roc - Waitakere Outrigger Club - 1:48.09
Master Women - Aniwa Niwa - Mareikura - 1:53.47

W2 - 16km  
Open Men - Jules Hindle / Shane Hohaia - Mitamitaga - 1:16.03

W1 - 16km 
Open Men  - Tonga White - Nga Tai Whakarongo - 1:20.20
Master Men - Vance Winiata - Akarana - 1:19.10
Senior Master Men - Michael Dolan - Omaha - 1:23.09

Afternoon races
The wind picked up in the afternoon and provided a little bit extra challenge for the mens W6.

Our champions for the afternoon races are

W6 - 25km  
Open Men - Goodyear Pdla Hei Matau Paddlers - 1:50.26
Master Men - Grizzlies White Taniwha - 1:57.11

W2 - 16km
Open Women - Teena Dinsdale / Nicky Perry - Maketu Hoe Waka - 1:38.23
Master Women - Corina Gage / Megan Read - Hoe Aroha - 1:31.35
Open Mixed - George Were / Femeli Piomafiti - Manukau - 1:29.31
Master Mixed - Tim Tapsell / Sandra Tapsell - Pakuranga - 1:31.10

W1 - 16km 
Open Women - Vesna Radonich - Orakei Water Sports - 1:47.08
Master Women - Jackie Porter-Thomas - Tauranga Moana - 1:51.48

Special mention goes to Goodyear Open Men and Vance Winiata Master Men W1, both champions for the 3rd year in a row.

Full results are available here

There are some pictures in our gallery, and to see all the photos from the day go to www.picturenz.co.nz

There are no desktop pictures this time around, but you can checkout this short promo video. Thank you to Roo Sports Video for the video footage.

There was a bit of light hearted entertainment for the evening, with the Fiji kava party, Hawaiin Hula, Tahitian singing and English pub songs.

Congratulations to the Horouta Waka Hoe, for taking out the OC2 Club Prize. This was proudly sponsored by the NZ Community Trust and Moana Nui Canoes & Paddles.

And of course a big, big thankyou to our many sponsors, without you this event wouldn't be possible :- New Zealand Community Trust, Moana Nui Canoes and Paddles, Green Thistle Sporting Trust, Skwoosh Paddle Seats, The Edge 99.8 FM, Kathmandu - Live the Dream, Corner Stone Pub - Tauranga, Subway, Peros Hairtek.

Until next time, paddler hard, paddle safe...

Hoe Aroha Whanau O Mauao, Maketu Hoe Waka, Tauranga Moana OCC