Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Ngaruawahia High School Yearbook 2011 | Page 45

Australia’s Gubbi Gubbi Sprint Championships - Waka Ama
Ngaruawahia paddlers have heaped glory on their
school after beating the Australians at a waka ama tournament
in the Aussies’ own backyard.
In a rare overseas trip, Ngaruawahia High School sent
three waka ama teams to the Sunshine Coast to paddle in the
Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi Sprint Champs toward the end of
September.
It is the first time the school has sent paddlers to tackle
the Aussies on home turf and they returned home with a ninemedal haul: three gold and
equal the amount in silver
and bronze.
“We went over
there to do a job and we
did that job,” coach Waki
Simon said.
Mr Simon struggled
to find words to describe
the achievement but was
effusive in praising his
fellow coaches, the school
and the work ethic of the
paddlers, all under 19 years
old.
“The only days they
got off (from training) were
Friday and Sunday and they
came back on Saturday to
do school work – that’s
how committed they are.
“It goes right down to their diet to how they conditioned
themselves.”
Principal Robyn Roa told Mr Simon she’d “never seen
kids study on a Saturday at this high school before”. The
achievement was further enhanced by the fact it was the first
time the school returned from an overseas sporting trip with

anything to show for it.
“They (Aussies) know where Ngaruawahia High School is
now.”
Fourteen-year-old paddler DJ Mahara won two golds in
the rudder and rudderless OC1 categories, both solo-canoe
races.
He said his first instinct when he won gold was to
“throw my blade (paddle) up in the air”.
“I’ve never won gold before . . . I felt really proud for the
school.”
Seventeen-yearold Tyler Reid also
picked up a gold as well
as a silver and bronze
medal, despite having to
adapt to the smaller and
t ig ht e r
Aus tralian
canoes.
She described her
reaction to getting gold
as being ‘‘pretty stoked’’
to beat the Aussies.
Both paddlers will
vie for places in the New
Zealand squad going to
the
2012
Va’a
(Outrigger) World Sprint
C hampions hips
in
Canada next August.
Mr Simon said the
trip would not be a one-off venture for the school, as it looked
to expand the curriculum to support similar opportunities in
the future.
This Sunshine Coast trip was supported by a number of
Ngaruawahia sponsors including the Community Market,
Turners and Growers and the High School.

Congratulations to our amazing waka ama crew (J19’s)
who represented us at the Gubbi Gubbi Trans Tasman
Outrigger Championships on the Sunshine Coast this past
weekend.
They departed Friday 23 September and returned
Wednesday 28 September with a massive 9 medal haul and 3
out of 5 age division trophies. We are so proud of you all. Here
are the results:

Whaea Rangimarie and Matua Waki want to specially
thank the Board of Trustees for allowing the trip to go ahead
and supporting the students, Whaea Roa for backing us up,
Sonia Harper, Judy Taylor and the Ngaruawahia Community
Markets, NZRL, paddle-athon sponsors, Uncle Chaz Paki, the
parents and whanau who have Supported their children, the
staff and students for the continual support.

Trophies:
U14’s Secondary School Championships
U19 Girls Secondary School Championships
U19 Boys Secondary School Championships

A huge thank you must go to Jamie Lichtwark for all the
hard work done providing transport, paddling advice, awhi ana
aroha. Thanks to Barney for the mental preparation and
inspiration and Marrin for the advice and heat-training
opportunity .

Medal Tally: 3 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronze medals.

Under 19 Girls Champions. Under 19 Boys Champions. Under 14 Mixed Champions.