The Eastern Regional surf lifesaving pool rescue championships at Kiwa Pools over the weekend produced some excellent racing and lots of medals for the Gisborne athletes.
The Eastern Regional surf lifesaving pool rescue championships at Kiwa Pools over the weekend produced some excellent racing and lots of medals for the Gisborne athletes.
Gisborne’s young surf lifeguards were among the medals at the Surf Life Saving NZ Eastern Regional pool rescue championships held at the Kiwa Pools over the weekend.
Around 400 competitors from clubs in Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Hawke’s Bay took part.
Dawson Building Midway finished third overall on points, Riversun Wainui were sixth and Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae ninth out of the 13 participating clubs.
Papamoa were first overall and Omanu second.
Midway had its largest number of athletes at the event in more than a decade.
“We had 26 athletes across both juniors and seniors and I was very proud of the whole group who competed well across the weekend with personal bests all round,” club head coach Jack Gavin said.
“More than 95% of them walked away with medals, which was fantastic to see.”
Midway's Celia Willoughby, pictured in ocean action earlier this year, set two New Zealand age group records at the Surf Life Saving NZ Eastern regional pool champs in Gisborne. Photo / Paul Rickard
Midway’s Under-12 boys’ team of Monty Nikora, Toby Garrett, Thomas Wade, Noah Aitken and Harry McPhail picked up medals in every team event.
The U14 girls’ crew of Sophie Phelps, Sophia Castles, Indie Nikora and Charlotte Willoughby and the U14 mixed team of Blake Taylor, Gus Kinsella, Bree Barlcay and Bella Barclay also won medals in every team event.
“This junior crew has shown that Midway has some exciting times ahead in the pool rescue space,” Gavin said.
“The seniors put some great times together in preparation for the national pool rescue championships.
“Most of the crew picked up medals across all of the events.
“Special mention to Celia Willoughby who claimed two New Zealand records - one in the U15 female 50m rescue medley and one in the U15 female 50m manikin carry.”
Wainui head coach Dion Williams described it as a “fun weekend” for his 11-strong team.
“All the kids raced fantastic,” Williams said. “We were really competitive in the age groups and every single kid got at least one medal to take home. Some had numerous medals.
“They made a bunch of new friends and performed extremely well. I’m very proud of them all.”
Wainui had two overall age group winners - Owen Booker (U14) and Brooke Williams (U12). Zyanja Rudge, Zoe Keepa and Xavier Booker finished third in their age groups.
Wainui's Brooke Williams (middle) was the overall winner in her age group. Omanu's Rylee Jury (left) was second and Papamoa's Summer Jackson (right) third.
Waikanae pool rescue coach Edan Wilson said it was a fantastic and well-organised event.
“Our whole team absolutely swam their socks off all weekend.”
Waikanae had 13 athletes competing, their largest team in the event for many years.
“The standard of swimming was really high, so it was pleasing to see our kids up there battling with the best for medals,” Wilson said.
“The youngest team of Nila Green, Emmie Fitzharris Stevens, Emma Webb and Tylar Dear were the first on the podium with a bronze in the U12 obstacle relay, followed by another bronze in the U12 brick relay.
These youngsters from Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae were among the medals in the Under-12 girls' obstacle relay and brick carry relay in their age group. From left are Emma Webb, Nila Green, Tylar Dear and Emmie Fitzharris-Stevens.
“Tylar Dear had an outstanding second day, bagging gold in the U11 brick carry and rescue medley races, a silver in the 50m swim with fins and then gold for the top overall U11 female swimmer.
“In the U14 age group, a composite team featuring Waikanae’s Josie Keast and Jade Hopper came away with two bronze medals in the mixed obstacle relay and brick relay races.
“The U17 girls composite team of Claire Hopper and Wainui’s Zyanja Rudge took bronze medals in the obstacle relay and the manikin relay, then went one better in the medley relay to take the silver.
“Bradley Douglas showed outstanding form over the whole event, claiming bronze in the U15 boys’ 100m manikin tow and manikin carry, silver in the rescue medley and third overall swimmer for his age group.”
