KEY POINTS:
Doris the sandy mermaid is a winner ... and she's given 8-year-old Georgia Woodward a sugar-coated windfall.
Georgia and three other children won the $100 first prize in a sand castle contest at Papamoa yesterday.
Sisters Rosie and Sophie Wood and their friend Georgia told the Herald they planned to spend their winnings at the dairy.
"I'm buying lollies," said Georgia.
The three Tauranga schoolgirls created their winning mermaid with the help of a Canadian boy, Alexander Harrison, who they did not know until he approached them and asked if he could join the competition.
The four children spent two hours moulding Doris into shape, fashioning a sea shell bustier and a smooth, strong tail for her.
"If you lie down on her, she won't break," said Sophie, 7.
Several dozen sandcastles were built on the sand in front of Papamoa Domain in the competition, organised by Sandy Walkers, a group opposed to the building of high-rise blocks on the beachfront at Papamoa.
