The 2020 New Zealand 10km Championships served up some thrilling competition on Lake Okareka as not only national honours but 2020 Kayak Krazy series titles were up for grabs in Rotorua.
The open men’s 10km race saw New Zealand World Sprint Championship representative Quaid Thompson demonstrate excellent reserves of endurance to take out the national title in a time of 47:48 – by a 15-second margin from his Poverty Bay club-mate Sam Ferkins.
Bronze was secured by Jack Clifton (Whanganui) in a tight battle from Sam Newlands.
In a fascinating sub-plot the championships event the race also provided a captivating climax to the Kayak Krazy series between Sam Ferkins and Liam Lace (Whanganui).
Leading into the concluding event in the nine-race series, Liam led the overall standings on 18pts with Ferkins six points further back in joint fifth. However, with double points on offer for the final race Ferkins secured 16pts for second in Rotorua and Lace a ten-point haul for fifth.
When the final standings were calculated nothing could separate the pair, who are declared joint winners of the open men’s 2020 Kayak Krazy series.
Emma Kemp mounted a successful defence of her open women’s title with a dominant display on Lake Okareka. The Mana paddler won by a victory margin of more than three-and-a-half minutes and also successfully retained her Kayak Krazy series title.
Libby Bell (Bay of Plenty) secured silver in the open women’s race with Whanganui’s Abby Hurley bronze.
Daniel Brown (Hawkes Bay) took out the men’s U18 title in a closely fought battle from Will Pittar (Poverty Bay). Hamish Macky (Hawkes Bay) secured the final spot on the podium with Brown earning double celebration by landing the Kayak Krazy series crown.
Poverty Bay toasted success in the U18 women’s race as Emma Brownlie earned a narrow two-second win from Sophie Brooke (Whanganui), who earned the consolation of overall victory in the Kayak Krazy series. Scarlett Old of Waitara completed the podium.
Damien Da Silva maintained his pre-eminence in the men’s U16 division to strike gold by a victory margin of 20 seconds over the 5km distance. The Hawkes Bay paddler also clinched the Kayak Krazy series title. Angus Sewell (Whanganui) and Poverty Bay’s Angus Baker picked up the minor medals.
Genna Robertson (Poverty Bay) bossed the women’s U16 race to cross the finish almost a minute clear of silver medallist Kate Skeels (Hawkes Bay), who claimed the 2020 Kayak Krazy crown. Jess Cleghorn of Eastern Bay grabbed bronze.
Hannah Baker (Eastern Bay) claimed victory in the U14 women’s race by a victory margin of nearly two minutes with Poverty Bay duo, Amandine Mariette and Hannah Webb taking the minor medals. Rose Keene (Hawkes Bay) in fourth earned the Kayak Krazy series win.
In the U14 men’s division, Julian Da Silva (Hawkes Bay) reigned supreme to win the championship gold as well as banking overall victory in the Kayak Krazy series. Jackson Donderwinkel (Karapiro) and Derek Esterhuizen (Eastern Bay) snared the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the masters’ divisions, Kim Harker (Bay of Plenty) struck gold in the men’s multi race and Derek Stewart took out the men’s masters 55+ event.
Zane Mills-Nossiter (Whanganui) won the top spot prize – a one-on-one training sessions with former World and Olympic kayak champion and CRNZ coach Tim Brabants.
