The country's best marathon paddlers descended on the Waitemata Canoe Club this past weekend, with national titles on the line across two days of racing at the 2026 New Zealand Canoe Marathon National Championships.
Titles were decided across long course K1, long course K2 and a 5km short course, spanning age groups from 14 and under through to the Masters 70-plus category.
Abby Turton took out the 14&U Women K1 in the long course, then backed it up in the 5km short course for a double. Emma Turton did much the same in the 18&U Women K1, winning both the long and short course titles. The pair also teamed up to win the 18&U Women K2.
Finn Martin was the standout in the 18&U Men K1, also doubling up across both distances, while Quaid Thompson claimed the Open Men K1 title in both the long and short course.
Philip Pirie had a strong weekend across grades and boat classes. He won the Masters 35-39yrs Men K1 in both the long and short course, then combined with Sean Murphy to take the Masters Men K2. Murphy also doubled up individually, winning the Masters 55-59yrs Men K1 long and short course titles.
In the other K2 results, Sam Newlands and Lachie Harkness won the Open Men K2, while Danika Mowlem and Kary Rogers took the Masters Women K2.
Quinn Pirritt won the 23&U Men K1 long course. Rosemary Gatland claimed the Masters 70+ Women K1 in both the long and short course, and Kevin Sargent took the Masters 70+ Men K1 short course title.
Further Masters titles went to Julio Mau-Asam, Vaughan Reed, Russell Baillee, Paul Fitchett, Phil Exeter and John Nowak across the various K1 and ski/multisport grades, with Mowlem and Rogers also claiming Masters ski/multisport honours.
The Waitemata Canoe & Multisport Club hosted the event, with volunteers ensuring the two days of racing ran smoothly. Their efforts, and the paddlers who claimed national titles, capped off a successful championship on the water.
