Bream Bay: Swimming, tennis finals, new lifeguards and upcoming events

Swimming team (back, from left): Hunter Dobson, Nina Matenga, Luca Matenga, Amy Swanson, Richard Dunkerton, Lily Matenga, Rose Linton, Kiera Carroll, Samantha Dutton; (front): Jackson Somner-Allen.

Bream Bay swimming spirit
It was the first taste of national competition for seven members of the nine-strong team of Bream Bay swimmers at New Zealand Division II National Age Group Championships in Rotorua last week.

But they took to it like fish to water, winning the award for Best Team Spirit from 100 clubs competing at the event.

Coach Richard Dunkerton says he was impressed with how the first-timers, especially the younger ones, coped with the level of competition.

Luca Matenga and Jackson Somner-Allen each brought home a silver and bronze medal, and several others made finals and some impressive personal best times – Samantha Dutton, 14, took more than 10 seconds off her 200m medley time and Kiera Carroll, 13, cut her 200m back time by over eight seconds.

Three of the team, Jackson, Luca and Rose Linton, 17, qualified to swim at the New Zealand Age Group Championships starting in Auckland on April 17.

Tennis finals
Despite a wet start to the weekend, Waipu Tennis Club's finals day went ahead in beautiful weather for the seniors.

Waipu Tennis senior prize winners. PHOTO/LOUISE WICKHAM

Trophy winners were (left to right in the above photo): Gordon McKay (men's champion); Jacques Fromont (ladies' doubles and singles plate winner); Wendy Jambor (ladies doubles and singles winner); Harris Lymburn (intermediate sportsmanship); Conrad Green (men's doubles champion); Jed Green (junior most improved); Stephen Lymburn (men's plate winner); Chelsea Stuart (junior endeavour); Yann Gublin (Peggy Huntly Trophy); Toni Kramer (intermediate most improved); Paul Ramsay (men's doubles champion); Niamh Gooseman (intermediate endeavour).

Junior and Intermediate championships will be held after Easter. The finals day concluded with around 60 members and their families sharing a meal with a lamb on the spit.

The club is always looking for new members, and if you're feeling the urge to pick up a racquet, you don't need to wait until next summer, as winter tennis starts in a couple of weeks. For more information call Louise Wickham on 027434 5353.

New lifeguards
Twelve new lifeguards qualified at Ruakaka Surf Life Saving Club last weekend.

Old primary school friends (from left) Skye Amsterdam, Georgia McKay and Abby Wright, three of Ruakaka Surf Club's new lifeguards. PHOTO/ANDREW WRIGHT

The new guards won't see much action until next spring, as volunteer guards finish patrols at Easter weekend, returning to beaches at Labour weekend.

Busy Waipu weekend
Waipu is the place to be this Easter weekend - Saturday brings all the fun of the fair with Waipu Primary's annual Easter Carnival, full of rides, entertainment, food and fun from 9am-2pm at Caledonian Park.

The Waipu Street Market is also on Saturday, 9am-1pm. Then kick up your heels at the Waipu Car & Bike Show Dance Night. Live music, 7pm start, entry $10, 25 per cent of proceeds to Northland Rescue Helicopter.

Tickets from the Waipu Razza 0210730145. The Waipu Car and Bike Show is at Caledonian Park, Sunday 10am-2pm, all proceeds to Waipu Lions.

Entry $5, under-10s free. Classics at the Cove winds up Sunday afternoon in style, 2.30pm-5pm at 566 Cove Rd. Tickets from eventfinda.co.nz .

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