Surf lifesaving: Mount Maunganui win Oceans 18 title a day early

Mount Maunganui team members celebrate their win at Oceans 18. PHOTO/BEX CHARTERIS

Mount Maunganui has been crowned the 2018 Under-14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving champions after the final day of racing at Orewa Beach was cancelled due to weather and swell conditions yesterday.The Mount team led from start to finish. It was the second consecutive year the club has taken the title at the event that was held away from Mount Main Beach for the first time.
The Oceans 18 event officials made the decision to cancel the final day after a large swell meant they could not ensure that racing would be fair to all athletes.

Oceans 18 event manager Scott Bicknell says it is a disappointing way to end such a fantastic event but fairness and safety are the main priorities.

"Obviously we're disappointed that we had to cancel the last day of racing but the athletes' wellbeing is our top priority, along with providing fun but fair racing conditions.

"We weren't going to be able to do that today due to the conditions so we had to make that decision and it was definitely our last resort option.

"We have to pass on a huge congratulations to Mount Maunganui on winning Oceans 18 this year. They raced well all weekend and deserve the win. I would also like to thank and congratulate all the other athletes for their effort this weekend, especially Lyall Bay and Whakatane who fought hard to finish on the podium."

Mount Maunganui head coach John 'Spindles' Bryant was surprised at the decision to cancel the last day's racing.

"Looking at the conditions (Sunday morning) it is probably the best out of the four days in my opinion. It is a king tide but if they had delayed the start there is no reason it could not have gone ahead," he said.

"Our kids just wanted to get out there and race but they come home with medals and a title so all good."

Bryant says the quality of the coaching programme at the club is fundamental to the successful campaign.

"It just continues to grow and kids thrive on it. We have Andrew Newton, Julien Lalanne, Declan Dempster and myself so that's four quality coaches we had there so the kids get the best of the best.

"When they come to the beach we try to make it as easy as possible. If they have done the work it works out for them. We just have more and more skilled kids coming through.

"We back it up with good management. Greg Akroyd and his team did an amazing job this weekend. It was the first time the juniors have had to travel from home and it didn't feel like that for us. They made it really cool for the kids."

The next major event on the SLSNZ calendar is the South Island IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) Championship next weekend at Warrington Beach, followed by the TSB New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships on March 15-18 in Gisborne.
Oceans 18
Results: http://liveresults.co.nz/153
Top 5
Mt Maunganui LS 46, Lyall Bay SLSC 40, Whakatane SLSC 28, Red Beach SLSC 26, Mairangi Bay SLSC + Omanu SLSC 23