The second V1 marathon of the Fiji Outrigger season took place at FDB Foreshore, Saturday February 15. The Open Men category started off first at 6:30am paddling a total distance of 12.5km. There were a total of 21 paddlers taking part from six different clubs. In first place was Fred Leota of Walu Va’a Outrigger Canoe Club with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 37 seconds. Coming in second place was Johnny Chung, also of Walu Va’a Outrigger Canoe Club with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 4 seconds. In third place was Gary Volau of Taf’aga Outrigger Canoe Club clocking a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 40 seconds. In fourth, fifth and sixth place followed paddlers from Taf’aga, Johji Wong, Ben Wilson and Mac Cakaulevu. All 21 paddlers managed to complete the entire 12.5km course in under 1 hour 30 minutes.
With the Open Men’s race concluded, the Open Women category started their race at 8:30am. By now the sun was up and it was getting hot. The Open Women raced a 10km course that started and finished at the FDB foreshore. There were a total of 17 paddlers that competed in the Open Women category from five different clubs which also included two young paddlers from the University of the South Pacific Islanders Canoe Club, Ana Ravu and LillianTrail. This race was a very close affair and in the end first and second was decided by just four seconds with Salome Tabuatalei of Kaiwai Outrigger Canoe Club coming in first with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 15 seconds and Theresa Avon of Taf’aga Outrigger Canoe Club coming in second in a time of 1 hour 6 minutes and 19 seconds. In third place and also from Taf’aga Outrigger Canoe Club was Krystelle Whippy with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 34 seconds. In fourth, fifth and sixth place were Katerina Morris of Taf’aga, Susan Vocea of Kaiwai and Mere Raikoti again of Tafaga.
The next Fiji Outrigger V1 marathon will be held on 1st March.
Clubs participating: Kaiwai Lami Canoe Club, Nadi Bay Canoe Club, Takia Canoe Club (Suva), Taf’aga Outrigger Canoe Club (Suva), Walu Va’a Outrigger Canoe Club, Vuda Canoe Club and USP Islanders Canoe Club .
PRESS RELEASE