Bream Bay News: A Waipu carnival, surf lifesaving prizegiving and swimming

Bream Bay swimmers at National Age Group Championships: Luca Matenga, Rebecca Reade, Abby Wright, Kiera Carroll, Samantha Dutton and coach Richard Dunkerton. Photo / Dawn Dutton

Bream Bay Swimmers Take the Plunge at Nationals

Five Bream Bay swimmers headed south to take on the country's top age group swimmers at the 2019 National Age Group Championships in Wellington last week. Just over 600 swimmers competed. Rebecca Reade, 16, was the top Bream Bay performer at the meet, placing eighth in her age group in the 200m backstroke final and 15th in 100m backstroke, improving her times and qualifying for the New Zealand Open Championships in both events. Reade was also 16th in 200m individual medley and 19th in 100m fly. Next best was Abby Wright, 15, who came 12th in 200m breast and swam personal best times in both 50m breast, where she placed 18th and 100m breast in which she was 16th. Coach Richard Dunkerton was happy that Reade and Wright had performed well. "But the most important thing about the meet was the realisation for these swimmers that they can compete. The younger swimmers were a little blown away at first, but this experience will do them well." Luca Matenga, 15, and Sam Dutton, 15, both qualified for national age groups at the recent Division II competition and Dunkerton says it was unrealistic to expect them to step up to the next level so quickly. For Kiera Carroll, 14, it was also her first national age groups competition.

Carnival crowds in Waipu

Sophia Anderson (6) and Ruby-Leigh Somner (12) enjoy candyfloss at the Waipu Easter Carnival. Photo / Julie Paton

Waipu's main street and Caledonian Park were crowded with people last Saturday as locals and visitors descended on the town for the combined Waipu Primary School Easter Carnival and Waipu Street Market. "The weather was superb, which is always a blessing at this time of year," says organising committee member Janine Boult. "The highlight of the day for me has to be how many extended families came along. It was lovely to see children sharing the fun with their parents, grandparents, cousins and friends." Boult says another highlight was how many members of the wider Waipu community helped out before, during and after the carnival. "It shows what a wonderful community spirit exists in Waipu." While organisers say it is too early to give an estimate on the amount of funds raised, all proceeds from this year's carnival will go towards buying more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Mathematics) related resources for the school. "It is always so rewarding being able to gift the school with items that extend and develop our children," says Boult.

Prizegiving ends season

Waipu Surf Life Saving Club president Rick Stolwerk at the club's prizegiving. Photo/Teresa Brown

Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club wound up their season with a prizegiving last Sunday. Club captain Kath Manning says it was a fantastic evening celebrating a successful season of surf lifesaving, covering junior surf, community education tour of Northland's unpatrolled beaches, surf sport, officiating, coaching, IRB racing, training new lifeguards, youth development, leadership, teamwork, patrolling, first aid and dedication. "We had a great turnout for our 90th season of keeping the beach safe. We started with a group photo in front of our club, and while this was happening we were treated with a spectacular show of dolphins playing and jumping through the waves in front of us." The club thanks sponsors for their support through the season - Camp Waipu Cove, Premium Real Estate, Northpine and Doug and Marvyn Smith. Trophy winners were: Nipper (under 7) – Zoe Grahame, Tia de Jong; Junior 8-10 – Isabelle Sinclair, Alistair Martin; Junior open – Kyla Mansell; Junior 11-12: Sascha Peck, Harris Lymburn; Junior Rookie of the Year – Zac Brown-Hale; Beecroft Cup for Paddle Board – Bill Hale; Most Improved Competitor – Sophia Baker; Lady's Trophy for all-round participation – Ruby Dickinson-Yeoman; Kevin and Mary Shanaghan Trophy for outstanding team player – Toby Hudson; Rivers-Smith Trophy for most improved all-rounder – Alyssa Flanagan; Most Improved all-rounder – Brianna Hall; Patrol Support Award – Merv Hudson; President's Trophy for junior leadership – Emma Baker; Best Competitor – WC Vikings (Bailey Hudson, Josh Baker, Quintin Brown, Emma Baker); IRB Trophy – WC Dinoco (Jake McClure, Callum McKay, Hayden Bartlett); Spirit of the Club – Angela Stolwerk; Instructors Award – Tim Manning; Patrol Person of the Year – Emily Stolwerk. Caleb Anderson; Woodman-Grant Trophy in recognition of outstanding contribution – Mark Flannagan; Bill and Dulcie Beeston Memorial Trophy for services to first aid – Kath Manning; Des Barchard Memorial Award for club involvement – Kath Manning; Patrol of the Year – Orca Patrol.

Te Reo Cafe Cancellation

This month's Te Reo Cafe at the Waipu Pizza Barn is cancelled because the restaurant will be closed for Anzac Day. You can resume practising your conversational te reo next month on May 23. Te Reo Cafe is aimed at beginners and is held 6-8pm on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, when the restaurant is closed). All are welcome to attend. For more information phone Mary Love on 027 486 8535 or Jan Francis 027 452 9584.

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