Racers remember mate
It's been four years since James "Bhutty" Moore lost his life at sea but good friends and fellow outrigger canoeists Paul Roozendaal and Troy Dolman continue to remember their mate with the annual James Moore-morial outrigger canoe/kayak race from Maketu to Pilot Bay.
Saturday's 32km challenge was another huge success with 93 paddlers and new course records in all divisions as the southeast wind picked up, pushing the paddlers up the coast.
It was the same route Moore, Roozendaal and Dolman were taking when Moore lost his life in July 2008 and one off the longest outrigger canoe races of its kind in the world.
Moore was born on February 5, 1975, so the race was planned around the time of his birthday, to celebrate his life.
On Sunday the relay was run in Shark Alley in front of the James Memorial seat, with two people to a team with each paddler racing 2km from the beach around Rabbit Island in the big swells.
Whakatane paddlers Hemi Wahapango and Lance Hibbert were too strong taking out the relay.
James Moore-morial results:
Outrigger canoe men: 1 Kingi Gilbert 2.25.25, 2 Mario Mausio 2.28.20, 3 Shane Hohaia 2.32.12, 4 Steven Roulston 2.37.36, 5 Kisione Funoa 2.38.38.
Outrigger canoe women: 1 Sarah Url 2.54.49, 2 Roni Nuku 2.57.48, 3 Lynora Hati 2.58.04, 4 Vesna Radonich 3.03.37, 5 Yvonne Rogers 3.09.57.
Outrigger canoe/ski mixed: 1 Allan Kakpanu-Dion Maise 2.21.33, 2 Lance Roozendaal-Tina Leone 2.28.50, 3 John Land-Warren Trethewey 2.37.54.
Surf ski: 1 Simon Mclarin 2.07.26, 2 Mike Walker 2.07.56, 3 Jeremy Kuggeleijn 2.09.12, 4 Robbie Ford 2.09.38, 5 Ian Mercer 2.10.15.
Surf ski women: 1 Dene Simpson 2.18.16, 2 Tracey Wilson 2.37.37.
Stand-up paddleboard: 1 Mike Nuku 3.10.26, 2 Seaton Rolleston 3.43.09, 3 Mark Pieterson 3.46.00.
