Gisborne’s Wainui emerge as top junior team at surf lifesaving pool rescue champs

A team of just seven athletes from the Wainui Surf Life Saving Club top scored in the junior ranks at the SLSNZ Pool Rescue Championships in Auckland. Back row (from left) are Zoe Keepa, Brooke Williams, Lucas Wang, Owen Booker and coach Dion Williams. Front: Liv Williams, Xavier Booker and Aaron Zhang.

Quality over quantity saw a seven-strong Wainui squad take overall junior honours at the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships in Auckland.

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand said Wainui proved “size does not matter” by collecting multiple individual and team titles.

“They topped the junior points score overall.”

Wainui’s juniors finished on 53 points, with Mount Maunganui second on 43.5 and Muriwai third on 23.

“Brooke Williams and Lucas Wang led the way, winning all four of their individual events in their Under-12 divisions (50m brick carry, 50m rescue medley, 50m swim with fins, 50m swim with obstacles).

“They also combined with their teammates to take out all five of the U12 relay events, breaking three New Zealand records along the way,” SLSNZ said.

Riversun Wainui’s team set five New Zealand records over the weekend.

Head coach Dion Williams said it was “a small team, but a mighty effort”.

“That was the talk of the weekend. Every single one of them got at least two medals or more.

“The national records were just the icing on the cake.

“The records were unexpected and amazing.”

Williams paid tribute to the part Gisborne swim clubs Comet and Enterprise played.

“They get the kids swimming fast and we teach them to do their pool rescue events well, so it’s a great team around them.”

Midway SLSC also picked up gold, silver and bronze medals.

The club’s sole junior athlete at the champs, Charli Willoughby, won gold medal in the U13 female 50 metre with fins event.

She also won bronze in the U14 medley relay, competing alongside athletes from Wainui.

Midway junior Charli Willoughby picked up gold in the U13 age group and a relay bronze in the U14 division.

“Charli was battling a niggly illness over the weekend, but raced amazingly considering, and had numerous top five finishes,” Dawson Building Midway head coach Jack Gavin said.

“She showed incredible determination to take the U13 female 50m fins national title with a time of 24.29 seconds.”

The club’s senior athletes also tasted gold - New Zealand Black Fins international Chris Dawson in the masters (over-30) in the 100m manikin tow in a masters record time and Junior Black Fin Yahni Brown in the U19 manikin carry with fins.

Celia Willoughby won gold in the U15 manikin carry and U15 rescue medley in which she set a New Zealand record.

Dawson, Tyron Evans, Jack Lepper and Brown won the men’s 4x25 manikin relay.

“We had a great weekend together as a squad and we had nearly 100% personal bests across the competition, which is all you can ask for,” Gavin said.

“It was clear the kids had worked hard on their skills and raced well under pressure, and lifted for their team events.”

Gavin said it was great to have Dawson racing as a master and doubling up as assistant coach.

“Having a world-class athlete racing under the Midway cap and imparting his knowledge is invaluable to the club, so a big thanks to him.

“Special mention to our boys defending the open men’s 4x25 manikin relay in a hot field and Cecilia Willoughby breaking her own New Zealand record in the U15 50m medley rescue.

“As always, thanks to all the parents, sponsors and supporters for another great pool champs season. Now bring on summer and a Gizzy nationals (New Zealand Surf Life Saving Champs) in March.”

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae had two athletes involved in the championships and both came home with medals.

Tylar Dear won the silver in the U11 female 50m brick carry and she and Emmie Fitzharris-Stevens made the podium with silver and bronze respectively in the 50m rescue medley.

Mairangi Bay won the senior overall points title on 113 with Red Beach second on 84 and East End third on 69.

Midway were fifth equal with Papamoa on 40.

Thirty-two New Zealand records were broken across the championships.