SPLASH OF BRILLIANCE
Palmertston North claim canoe polo title
CANOE POLO: Palmerston North Canoe Club’s Expose team are the winners of the Atahua Cup after a hard-fought battle in the final game on Sunday.
The team played hard against Hurricanes A1, of Hawke’s Bay, to win 6-2, with Expose’s goalkeeper and allrounder Matt Keong keeping out many attacks on goal and Expose’s shots meeting their target.
Canoe Polo is a fast-paced game, described as a cross between water polo, basketball and kayaking, played on a 35 metre x 23m court.
This tournament, hosted by Kiwi Canoe Polo at the Hokowhitu Lagoon in Palmerston North, has been an annual event since 2002.
In more recent years, the club’s Vikings Black team have played in the final, but stalwart James Mitchell stepping down from the team and a bevy of new players has relegated them to a development phase. Vikings Black, however, managed to pip composite team Tukaitaua in the third-place playoff, with a convincing 8-4 victory.
More than 1500 people watched or played in the tournament’s 193 games over the weekend.
Results:
Open A grade: 1. Palmerston North Canoe Club Expose; 2. Hurricanes A1; 3. Vikings Black.
Women’s A grade: 1. Sirens; 2. Valkyries Black; 3. Maple Leafs.
Open B grade: 1. NZ Develpment Men; 2. Vikings Rust; 3. Saints – Gold. Women’s B grade : 1. Valkyries Saffron; 2. Polo Bears; 3. Valkyries Yellow. Open C grade: 1. Vikings Chrome; 2. Vikings Cobalt; 3. Karamu JB.