School kayak nationals choose Tarawera | News | Kawerau

School kayak nationals choose Tarawera

10 April 2015

PADDLING AHEAD: Trident High School paddler Kaitlin Blackwood takes in a big breath during a run in the Secondary Schools White Water Kayaking Nationals last week. Photo supplied

TARAWERA River was stirred by 80 young paddlers from around New Zealand last week during the Secondary Schools White Water Kayaking Nationals.

Kawerau District Council events and community activities team leader Lee Barton said the five-day event, run from March 28 till April 1, was good for the town’s businesses and profile.

Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty ran the event with support from Kawerau Community Patrol and Maori Wardens.

Mr Barton said he only knew of two Eastern Bay paddlers competing in the event but he was hoping to see growth in the sport in coming years.

Jonathan Smith, from Tarawera High School, and Kaitlin Blackwood, Trident High School, took part.

Bay of Plenty Canoe Slalom president Sue Clarke said the event started with light rain on the Saturday and Sunday, but cleared for brilliant sunshine for the rest of the week.

She said the Tarawera River course was fantastic for the competition because it featured softer water at the bottom and white water further up for more experienced paddlers.

Bay competitors made up half the entry list and the club was running a number of training programmes to encourage new people onto the water, she said.

Source: Whakatane Beacon