Gisborne clubs in the mix but weather wins the day at ERC surf lifesaving carnival

Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media. Oska Smith helps exhausted Waikanae clubmate Seven Mapu stretch at the Eastern Regional Championship surf lifesaving carnival in Mount Maunganui over the weekend. Mapu beat Smith in the open men's beach flags, and Smith was second and Mapu third in the beach sprint. Photo / Jamie Troughton-Dscribe Media

The final day of the Eastern Regional Championship (ERC) Surf Lifesaving carnival at Mount Maunganui was called off due to extreme winds, poor visibility and unsafe sea conditions.

Surf team races were the only events held on Sunday before the championships were abandoned.

Mount Maunganui were knocked off the top club perch after a 16-year reign at the ERCs.

Neighbours Ōmanu emerged overall winners with 207 points across the completed events. The Mount were second on 200 and East End of Taranaki were third on 188.

Dawson Building Midway finished fifth on 118 points, Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae were ninth on 57 and Riversun Wainui were 19th on 14.

Midway teenager Ella Sutton heads for shore while competing in the Under-17 women's age group at the Eastern Regional Championship surf lifesaving carnival at Mount Manganui. Sutton won the board race in her age group and was second in the ski won by clubmate Jacqueline Kennedy. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media.

“It was disappointing not to be able to complete the programme but the weather got the better of us on Sunday,” Surf Life Saving New Zealand eastern region sport manager Sonia Keepa said.

“We still managed to get a major portion of the championship programme completed by bringing some events scheduled for Sunday into Saturday’s racing.”

Midway’s team won five gold medals, seven silver and seven bronze.

The club’s highlights included a win to Tyron Evans in the Under-19 men’s board and his second in the surf race.

Jack Lepper was second in the board.

Ella Sutton won the U17 women’s board and was second to clubmate Jacqueline Kennedy in the U17 ski.

Sophie Petro claimed silver in the U19 board and was second with Alice Sparks in the board rescue.

Lilla Hain won the U15 beach sprint, with Sophie Warren third.

Evans, Lepper, Finn Cameron and Yahni Brown were second in the U19 men’s surf teams race.

Midway's Yahni Brown and Max Kennedy were third in the U19 men's double ski. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media.

Brown and Max Kennedy were third in the U19 men’s double ski.

Waikanae had collected won five golds, three silver and two bronze when the carnival was called off.

Club manager Clara Wilson said their small but powerful team proved themselves over the weekend with several some dominant performances.

Emily Gillies won her age group in the masters competition on Friday. She struck gold in the iron, ski and flags, and picked up silver in the board, surf race and beach sprint.

Arna Majstrovic won the board race and was second in the beach sprint in her masters age group.

In the club contest, reigning world champ Briana Irving won the open women’s beach sprint and teamed up with Majstrovic, Christy Tate and George Beaufoy to win the open beach relay.

Waikanae clubmates Oska Smith (left) and Seven Mapu in the final of the open men's beach flags at the Eastern Regional Championships at Mount Maunganui. Mapu won. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media

World champion Oska Smith was second in the open men’s beach sprint (to the Mount’s Logan West) with Waikanae clubmate Seven Mapu third.

Mapu won a thrilling men’s beach flags final, pipping Smith to the post.

Waikanae’s team of Smith, Irving, Mapu and Georgie Beaufoy won the mixed beach relay – the first time this event has been held at the ERCs.

Zach Ferkins teamed up with Tate to storm home for second in the mixed double ski.

Wainui came home with a title and a silver.

Both medals went to Rori Fukushima-Hall, who won the U15 beach sprint and was runner-up in the U15 beach flags.

Fukushima-Hall and brother Mako were fourth in the U17 board rescue.