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MOC, MPP paddlers take perpetual trophies
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- Marianas Outrigger Club paddlers receive the perpetual trophy from Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation during the short awards presentation last weekend. (Contributed Photo)
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- Officials of the Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation pose with Marianas Pacific Paddlers’ women’s team that won the perpetual trophy in the 2017 Canoe Paddling Season last Sunday at Kilili Beach. (Contributed Photo)
The Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation’s 2017 Canoe Paddling Season concluded with the last run of the distance races last Sunday.
Women’s teams from Marianas Pacific Paddlers and Saipan Paddling Club (SPC) competed in the open women’s eight-mile course, while Marianas Outrigger Club and Saipan Paddling Club (SPC) entered the open men’s 10-mile race.
MPP women’s crew ended up winning the three-round series that started in August with their strong performance in the eight-mile course. MOC paddlers, on the other hand, continued their dominance in the men’s division as they defeated SPC in all three races.
Perpetual trophies were awarded to both MPP women’s team and MOC men’s squad.
Meanwhile, SPC’s junior paddlers entered the last race series as a practice run and scrimmage against Napu Outrigger Club’s junior crew. Both squads will be competing in the 2017 Micro Cup in Guam later this month.
SPC’s junior paddlers had only two weeks to train but decided to enter and race to get first hand experience. On the other hand, Napu’s junior girls and boys teams showed everyone how much they are committed to the sports by entering the races for the whole season. Napu competed and scrimmaged against their own teams in the sprints and distance events.
Teams from MPP, MOC, SPC, and Napu competed in the 250m , 500m, and 1,000m. MOC and MPP Clubs entered two men’s and women’s squads, respectively, while SPC had one men’s and one women’s squad. In the junior division, Napu and SPC each entered one boys and one girls team.
“We thank all the parents, junior paddlers, coaches, clubs, and all our paddlers for a wonderful and successful 2017 season,” race director Ed Johnson said.
“The NMNPSF looks forward to a better season in 2018 as it prepares to host the Micro Cup here next year,” NMNPSF head Justin Andrew added.
The group also acknowledged the generous contributions of Napu and Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club for making their canoes available to teams from the different clubs.
