Congratulations to Adrian Tukaki, Craig Pauling and Iaean Cranwell from Te Waka Pounamu Waka Ama Club, Whakaraupō for their silver medal in the Premier Men W12 500m at this year’s Waka Ama Nationals. Representing Te Waka o Aoraki, the South Island Waka Ama Association, they teamed up with Te Awa Haku Dogfish and formed Aoraki Dogfish. In a close race Aoraki Dogfish finished second to Vaka Manu from Manukau by .5 secs. It was the club’s first silver medal at a national event. They finished sixth in the W6 500m final, not bad for a bunch of old men, with an average age of 40. Also Craig Pauling became the fifth fastest paddler in the country, when he competed in the new Premier Men’s Dash W1 250.
W12 – double hulled waka.
Craig Pauling on his way to becoming the fifth fastest in the country.
W6 from left: Waka Ama: Iaean Cranwell, Cody de Ia Croix, Ross Gilray, Adrian Tukaki, Rob Smith and Craig Pauling.