BACKWe are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our small but mighty Rangitoto College Canoe Sprint team, who competed last term at the 2026 New Zealand Secondary Schools Canoe Sprint Championships. Facing fierce competition from top paddlers across the entire North Island, our students showcased incredible sportsmanship, determination, and talent, bringing home a fantastic haul of medals!
A massive congratulations to all our competitors:
- India Vaughn standard-set the field to claim a brilliant Gold Medal in the 16&U Women’s K1 250m.
- Kaitlin Clark delivered a stellar performance in the same fiercely competitive race, fighting hard to secure a well-deserved Bronze Medal in the 16&U Women’s K1 250m.
- Silver Success: The powerhouse trio of India Vaughn, Kaitlin Clark, and Claire Sadler teamed up in the 16&U Women’s 3x100m relay, paddling their way to a magnificent Silver Medal.
- Narrowly Missing the Podium: We also want to recognise our athletes who placed in the top tier of their events against the best in the region. Hudson Cooper-Ross showed incredible grit, narrowly missing the podium with two stellar 4th-place finishes (18&U Men’s K1 250m, and the K2 250m alongside India Vaughn). Meanwhile, Summer Rose Watson and Kaitlin Clark also teamed up for a fantastic race, placing 4th in the 16&U Women’s K2 250m.
To come away with such historic results with a compact squad is a testament to the hours of gruelling training these athletes put into their kayaking.
We are incredibly proud of how beautifully these students represented Rangitoto College on the water. With results like these, the future of canoe sprinting at our school looks incredibly bright and we are already looking forward to watching this sport double in size next year!
A huge thank you to the parents and supporters who make these opportunities possible for our students.
