‘Motorsport on water’

Waikanae will have four crews in action this weekend at the New Zealand IRB championships at Otago’s Waikouaiti Beach, including (pictured) the open men’s crew of Connor Mitchell and Oliver Shivnan, with team patient Matti Richards.Picture supplied

The tiny Otago town of Waikouaiti (population 1260) will be abuzz when it hosts the New Zealand Inflatable Rescue Boat championships this weekend and crews from Gisborne’s Waikanae club will be right among the action.

The BP-sponsored carnival has attracted 119 crews from 26 surf lifesaving clubs, including two from Kirra in Queensland.

The champs gives lifeguards the opportunity to refine their technical skills and physical fitness while driving and crewing IRBs.

Surf Life Saving NZ national sport manager Lewis McClintock said the champs were one of the most exciting events on the surf lifesaving calendar.

“They are often described as motorsport on water with hard, fast, action-packed racing.”

The Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae IRB teams have prepared well and are ready to race.

Waikanae driver Connor Mitchell and crewman Oliver Shivnan are competing in the open men’s division.

“The standard of this division is incredibly high and the lads will be right up there, battling with the best for titles,” Waikanae club manager Clara Wilson said.

“Driver Harry Allan and crewman Travis Mitchell will be hoping to emulate their exceptional form from the North Island champs in the under-23 group (two gold medals). Flying the flag for the ladies are the promising under-19 team of Elle Williams (driver) and Bella Fitzharris-Stevens (crew), who showed so much improvement at the North Islands,” Wilson said.

The u19 men’s team of driver Hamish Swann and crewman Taran Wilson won a title at last year’s New Zealand champs and are in strong form.

“They put in some winning performances at the North Islands so will be pushing hard for similar honours.

“Trusty team patients Matti Richards and Michaela Clearwater will have their work cut out for them working hard for the four teams.”

Waikanae coach Connor Mitchell said the crews were ready and had the potential to achieve some top results.

“The beach profile at Waikouaiti is extremely similar to Waikanae, which obviously suits us.”

The nationals feature u19, u23, open and masters (30 years-plus) age groups competing in the single rescue, mass rescue, tube rescue, assembly rescue and teams’ race.

McClintock said the competitive situation was a “great way for surf lifeguards to hone their skills for the busy summer months when IRBs are instrumental in rescues”.

“Each championship event mirrors real-life scenarios, with surf lifeguards navigating the surf and getting patients back to shore as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.

Every year IRBs were used to rescue beachgoers and had recently played vital roles in responding to weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle.

St Kilda go into the nationals as favourites for top club honours, having won that title for the fourth year running at the South Island championships at the same venue a few weeks ago.

“However, North Island clubs like Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service, Ōpunake SLSC, and East End SLSC are all sending strong contingents, so there will be some competitive racing,” McClintock said.

The champs start at 8am tomorrow and real-time online results will be available on Waves Results.