Sport Manawatū is proud to celebrate the recent success of Manawatū Kiwi Canoe Polo (MKCP), whose teams achieved outstanding results at the Asia Pacific Club Championships in Ningbo, China. Held over the weekend of 21st and 22nd September, the championships saw two development teams from MKCP – the Valkyries (women’s) and the Vikings (men’s) – make their mark on the international stage.

The MKCP Valkyries, a young and determined women’s team, claimed gold in a thrilling final against Singapore, securing a 4-3 victory with a last-minute goal that had spectators on the edge of their seats. The MKCP Vikings, the men's development team, delivered an equally commendable performance, reaching the finals after a hard-fought semi-final win against the Chibenes Taipei U21 Men’s national team. Despite falling short with a 1-0 loss to the Singapore men’s national team in the grand final, the Vikings proudly brought home the silver trophy.

Amy Walters, MKCP’s Club President, expressed her immense pride in both teams' performances. "Our teams represented us to the highest standard, both on and off the water. The silver and gold trophies are a testament to the hard work put in during the months of training at the lagoon. The calibre of our players and coaches is outstanding, and we couldn't be prouder of what we've achieved," said Amy.

This marks the second consecutive year MKCP has attended the Asia Pacific Club Championships, with last year’s elite Valkyries and Vikings teams also bringing home gold in both the men’s and women’s categories. However, this year’s competition saw development teams stepping up to compete against experienced national squads from countries like China, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Despite initial uncertainty about how the newer players would fare, MKCP’s commitment to fostering growth, purpose, and connectedness shone through with spectacular results.

"We are creating opportunities for young people to succeed and find purpose. Our club is about more than just playing; it’s about developing both the sport and our athletes in a positive and supportive environment," Amy added.

The success at the championships highlights the incredible work MKCP is doing to nurture talent across all levels, from high-performance athletes who will soon represent New Zealand at the World Championships in Deqing, China, to the youngest players just starting out in the sport. The club's recent Intermediate/U15 competition at Freyberg Pool further underscores its dedication to development and inclusivity.

Sport Manawatū supports MKCP’s ambitions to secure a purpose-built facility that will allow them to continue growing without barriers. "Our ultimate goal is to establish a facility where our club can thrive. We are grateful to Palmerston North City Council, Sport NZ, and Sport Manawatū for supporting the Needs Assessment, which will explore this vision," Amy said.

Sport Manawatū extends its congratulations to MKCP for their remarkable achievements and is proud to support their ongoing journey in fostering the development of canoe polo in our region.

Squad lists

Valkyries: Charlotte Connel, Ella Coulson, Eila Donaghy, Elleanor King, Holly McLaughlin, Kirstie Shailer (Captain), Kayla Wells-Currie, Ruby Wittwer (did not travel due to injury). 

Coach: Bede Skinner-Vennell.

Manager: Lucy Burkitt.

Vikings: William Broderick, Cameron Gemmell, James Gilroy, Sam Hawinkels, Noah Jensen, Jacob McLaughlin, Ethan Poppelwell, Matthew Sawyer (Captain). 

Coach: Carl Massarotto. 

Manager: Bronwyn Jensen. 

Tour Manager: Amy Walters. 

Assistant Managers: Greg Sawyer and Joanna Shepherd. 

Article added: Wednesday 02 October 2024