On the 30th of April, our team of three Tauranga Girls’ College canoe slalom akōnga made their way down South to the beautiful city of Tekapo. This chilly two-week trip consisted of training and competing in the harsh elements for the NZ Secondary Schools Tournament and NZ Nationals championships.

Canoe Slalom is a competitive water sport, where athletes paddle on natural or man-made whitewater rivers whilst navigating a course of hanging gates. Kayakers have to gain the skills to read rapids and manoeuvre the constantly changing, fast-flowing river, all in order to complete races with little or no touches and misses. There are multiple individual and team categories within the sport, in which our wonderful wahine have mastered over the 3-6 years they’ve spent training in canoe slalom.

Over fourteen different schools travelled from across New Zealand to also compete in Tekapo, leading to a tough batch of competition for our small team of three. However, despite this and the frosty conditions, our astounding akōnga still managed to take home a towering 11 different cups and countless medals. Coming away with the Top Overall Small School, and Top Overall Girls School kayaking team in New Zealand. Our girls never fail to succeed and shine a glimmering spotlight on our kura.

A massive congratulations to Rosie Rex (YR10) for being awarded the Best Overall U16W paddler, to Kiarni Sperling (YR12) for being awarded the Best Overall U18W paddler, and to Tess Pateman (YR12) who had absolutely astounding results throughout all her categories. Ka Pai girls!

All results are listed below:

New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS)

Overall cups:

Best All Girls' School - Tauranga Girls' School

Best Small School (under 7 paddlers) - Tauranga Girls' School

Best Overall U16W paddler - Rosie

Best Overall U18W paddler - Kiarni

Tess Pateman (YR12):

Individual:

C1W U16 - 1st

K1W U16 - 2nd

Team:

C2W U16 - 1st

K1W U18 team (TGC) - 1st

C1W U18 team (TGC) - 1st

C2Mix U16 - 1st

C2 U18 teams - 1st

Other:

Kayak cross - 2nd

Kiarni Sperling (YR12):

Individual:

K1W U18 - 1st

C1W U18 - 1st

Team

K1W U18 team - 1st

C1W U18 team - 1st

C2Mix U18 - 5th

C2M U18 - 8th

Rosie Rex (YR10):

Individual:

K1W U16 - 1st

C1W U16 - 2nd

Team:

C2W U16 - 1st

C1W U18 team (TGC) - 1st

K1W U18 team (TGC) - 1st

C2Mix U18 - 1st

C2 U18 teams - 1st

Other:

Freestyle - 1st

U16 Kayak cross - 1st

New Zealand NATIONALS (second event)

Tess Pateman:

KW1 U16 - 1st

C1W U23 - 2nd Tess (1st U16 and U18)

Cup for the Fastest Junior C1 paddler

Kiarni Sperling

KW1 U18 - 3rd

Rosie Rex:

KW1 U16 - 2nd

C1W U23 - 3rd (2nd U16 and U18)