Surf Lifesaving: Coach provides template

Waimarama's double national champions Michael Harman (left), Ben Cross, Luke Harman and Michael Bassett-Foss. Photo / Mark Weatherall

Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club's sports director Michael Bassett-Foss was doing his best to deflect the kudos last night but it wasn't working.

Bassett-Foss deserved every bit of praise which was heaped on him by club chairman Kim Nilsson and others after the club's athletes produced their best results for many years at the national championships which ended in Ohope on Sunday. Waimarama finished 16th out of 45 clubs and was the best of the Bay's clubs.

"Michael and his son Bertie have been one of the reasons our team did so well.

"They have both supplied our club with a strong coaching programme over the season that started in September last year," Nilsson said.

"Waimarama has a great team of supporters and a great pool of volunteers. We're just a small part of the overall team," Bassett-Foss said.

He has been coaching at the club for a couple of years and this summer he shared the craft coaching with his son who was in charge of the swimming coaching. Bassett-Foss led by example when he competed and returned home with six golds and one silver. Along with Ben Cross, Michael and Luke Harman, Bassett-Foss, was a member of the open men's canoe race team which won the long and short course titles.

In his masters 50-54 years grade Bassett-Foss won gold in his surf race, ski race, ironman and run-swim-run events and silver in the board race. A Hawke's Bay businessman, Bassett-Foss, moved to Napier 15 years ago after representing the Otaki club from the age of 14.

Harman and Cross both compete in the premier grade on the national IRB scene and have worked hard on their strength and fitness this season which paid dividends in the canoe races. The pair are tipped to perform well at the Papamoa-hosted IRB nationals on April 2 and 3.

Georgia Rathbone was anther valuable contributor to the Waimarama points tally. She won the under-16 beach flags title and finished third in her beach sprint final.

It wasn't a surprise when Rathbone was selected in the New Zealand Development Youth squad announced on Sunday night.

Along with Bassett-Foss, Allister Hunter, was another to impress at masters level. The 70-74 years grade athlete won his board race, beach flags and beach sprint events and silvers in his surf race and run-swim-run events.

The Ocean Beach Kiwi club provided Hawke's Bay's other national titles. New Zealand kayaking rep Scott Bicknell won the open men's ski.

His clubmate Anne Cairns won the masters 30-34 years ski race title and combined with Jess Bennett to win the double ski gold in the same age group.

Ocean Beach Kiwi's long course canoe race crew of Shane Bennett, William Wilkins, Jack Crasborn and Ben Hamelink did well to win silver.