Bream Bay College swimmers keep firm grip on Nash Shield

Bream Bay College's Nash Shield team (back, from left): Hunter Dobson, Jackson Somner-Allen, Paul Linton (front, from left): Amy Swanson, Abby Wright, Rose Linton. Photo / Mike Swords

Bream Bay College swimmers kept a firm grip on the Nash Shield, an interschool trophy the college has held now for nine years.

The shield goes to the winner of a six-swimmer relay team challenge at the South Zone competition, held at Rodney College. Team members are one girl and one boy from under-14, under-16 and under-19 age groups.

Bream Bay sent 29 students to compete against swimmers from Dargaville, Ruawai, Otamatea and Rodney secondary schools, winning 11 out of 16 relay events, gaining 35 firsts, 10 seconds and 14 thirds. Paul Linton was the star swimmer of the day, breaking records in 25m freestyle, 25m backstroke and 50m backstroke.

Library supporters in good books
Three Ruakaka residents now have the run of the local library.

Library chairperson Essie Leech with Elise Allen. Photo / Barbara Turner

At a morning tea in February, Elise Allen, Peter Copeman and Spencer Cummings were awarded the title "Friends of the Library" in recognition of their longstanding membership and support of the library.

They received a certificate and are now entitled to free use of the library with no fees for any books checked out.

Northern region champs at Ruakaka
About 400 competitors from surf life saving clubs around Auckland and Northland descended on Ruakaka beach last weekend to compete in the 2018 Northern Region Championships.

Rick Stolwerk (front right) and his team in the Open Men's surf race. Photo / Mike Swords

Waipu's Masters surf canoe team took on the competition in the Open Men's events, in preparation for the national championships in Gisborne in three weeks. Against tough competition from bigger clubs, they came away with third place and a bronze medal in Sunday's long course event.

On Saturday, in the short course competition, they placed first and second in the heats, but were fourth overall. It was the first senior carnival for newly qualified Waipu lifeguards Josh Baker and Jacob Buckle. Josh was 10th in the final of the U16 men's run-swim-run and made the final of the U16 men's ironman.

Jacob made the final of the U16 men's board race. Both boys will be eligible to compete in the same age group next year.

Waipu raft race
There is still time to put a raft together for this year's Waipu River Raft Race, organised by the Waipu Boat and Fishing Club.

Severe weather stopped the race going ahead as scheduled on February 18, so it is now on this Sunday, starting at noon. Race for great cash prizes: $1000 for the open race, $500 for juniors and $200 for paddle-boarders. Register at the Waipu Boat and Fishing Club website.

■ Email Julie Paton at moojoy@xtra.co.nz if you've got Bream Bay news to share with the Advocate.