A veritable host of medals and trophies came the way of the Ruamahanga Barefoot Waterski Club at their national championships held in very trying conditions at Lake Inspiration in Otaki last weekend.
Bevan Kelly, the world senior champion, made a clean sweep of all three events in the senior section andwas also awarded a certificate for breaking the national senior jump record, something he managed at the world championships held in Germany during August last year.
It is interesting to note that Kelly's scores last weekend would have been good enough to win him the men's open title had he chosen to compete at that level.
Matthew Forsyth placed second overall in the men's one division and was the recipient of a special award for breaking the national men's one trick record at the Bay of Plenty regionals in March.
Sarah Linton competed in the open women's grade and achieved personal best performances in tricks, slalom and for overall points. She claimed the bronze medals in each of those categories.
Greg Barber was a dominant figure in the men's two division where he won three gold medals despite aggravating a shoulder injury early on and having to fight through the pain in both semifinals and finals.
Skiing at their first nationals were 6-year-old twins Toby and Meg Kelly, who did their father and coach Bevan proud. They were in the rookie grade with Meg placing fifth overall and winning the tricks discipline and Toby finishing fifth overall.
Another "prize winner" for the Ruamahanga club was Mark Forsyth who, from all accounts, deservedly came away with the "biggest stirrer" of the tournament award.
