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Kayak champs head to Hawea Jessica Maddock Wanaka Sun New Zealand’s best kayakers, including Olympians Mike Dawson and Luuka Jones, will compete in national championships being held at the Hawea Whitewater Park this month. Central Otago Whitewater spokesperson Dale Norbury said the New Zealand Canoe Slalom Championships, from March 28 to 30, would be the first time a national slalom event had been held on the two manmade waves, which opened last year. Competitors would have to negotiate several upstream and downstream “gates” which would be hanging over the rapids, with the fastest kayaker named the champion. It was a skilled sport, with a kayaker who touched or missed a gate incurring varying time penalties, Dale said.
PHOTO: WANAKA.TV
At the same time, the New Zealand Open Freestyle Championships would be held, on March 29 and 30. Dale said kayakers in this event – including the current women’s world champion, Claire O’Hara from the United Kingdom - would perform “rodeo style tricks” in small plastic play-boats. The moves included
the “McNasty,” “Space Godzilla” and “Phonics Monkey,” and points were based on how difficult they were. About 120 kayakers were expected to compete in the canoe slalom and freestyle competitions. The Hawea River would be flowing at about 65 cumecs per second for the events, compared to the average summer
flow of around 10 cumecs per second. The New Zealand Secondary Schools Freestyle Championships would also be held earlier in the week, on March 26. Members of the public were invited to watch the events, with vehicle parking and viewing areas accessible from the CamphillRoadbridge near Hawea Flat.
sportbrief Cricket: Koford Cup final for seniors The Albion Seniors had an eight-wicket win over Blacks Hill on Saturday. Blacks Hill scored 139 for seven with Sasha Hill batting 67 and Albion’s Gareth Tate bowling four for 36. Albion replied with a score of 140 for 2. Joe Cotter contributed 53 and Richard MacLeod hit 33 not out. Albion face Blacks Hill again this Saturday in the Koford Cup final at Alexandra. The Albion Senior Reserves played Alexandra away last weekend. Albion was 116 all out. Mike O’Connor scored 42. Alexandra scored 119 for 2 to take the win, with contributions from Joe Anderson, 53, and Jack Jackson, 41. The Reserves play for the third place spot this Saturday.
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