The four day event was hosted at Mount Maunagnui main beach. Photo / Supplied
The four day event was hosted at Mount Maunagnui main beach. Photo / Supplied
Organisers are praising the "fantastic spirit" and performance despite Covid-19 level changes forcing a cancellation of the final day at this year's Surf Life Saving New Zealand Oceans '21 event.
More than 850 competitors in Mount Maunganui were at the annual four-day event.
Competitors aged 10 to 14 years of age tested their mettle in events designed to emulate real-life lifesaving scenarios.
Surf Life Saving NZ sports event manager Mark Inglis said despite the cancellation of day four the first three days of Oceans '21 were "fantastic".
"It was frustrating having to cancel day four, but I don't want that to detract from the fact that these kids did an incredible job of demonstrating their skills in what was – for the first two days – fairly tricky conditions."
The finals for four key events were unable to go ahead due to Sunday's cancellation. These included the surf race, board race, diamond board and swim and grand cameron.
Junior athletes competed hard until Sunday was cancelled due to Covid restrictions. Photo / Supplied
Lucas Smith, a competitor representing Christchurch's South Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, wrote in an open letter to event organisers that Oceans '21 was an "amazing" experience regardless of being cut short.
"I was going to spend Sunday morning after competing in the cameron race going around and finding and thanking as many officials as I could for making the competition as great as it has been," he said.
"I'm sorry for everyone who has missed out on a final on Sunday; I know how disappointed they will be. I made it to the final for the board relay which was my goal and I would've been gutted if I had woken up to the news it had been cancelled
"But I'm pretty sure everyone would like to thank every single person who has been involved with the running of Oceans '21."
Inglis said the competitors' performance was a "credit to their training," and the young people rose to the occasion in the face of big surf early in the competition.
"The carnival spirit was amazing and it was wonderful to see hundreds of kids from around the country come together and celebrate the excitement of Surf Lifesaving."
Results
Run Swim Run • U14 Male. Mason King, Orewa 1, Jack McSweeney, Omanu 2, Asher Hales, East End 3. • U14 Female. Chloe Kapene, Waikanae 1, Monique Bartlett, Omanu 2, Niamh Manning, Mt Maunganui 3. • U13 Male. Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 1, Chris Callebaut, Fitzroy 2, Jack Handford, Orewa 3. • U13 Female. Misha Petherbridge, Orewa 1, Ella Sutton, Midway 2, Georgia Davoren, Papamoa 3. • U12 Male. Finn Freemantle, Whangamata 1, Brooklyn Taylor, East End 2, Finn Crawford, Omanu 3. • U12 Female. Lola Lowry, Mt Maunganui 1, Erika Orbell, Orewa 2, Olivia Verryt, Omanu 3. • U11 Male. Henri Miller, Lyall Bay 1, Thomas Mill, Waimarama 2, Nico Jordan, East End 3. • U11 Female. Coco Wren, Whakatane 1, Addison Dawson, Mt Maunganui 2, Sophia Maltai-Spence, Papamoa 3.
