Surf lifesaving: Poignant start to national champs

Ben Blackwell, 12, from Omanu wins his heat of the beach flag sprints on day one of the Oceans 14 national under-14 surf lifesaving champs. Photo / John Borren

Mount Maunganui's Main Beach has been transformed into a makeshift tent city as 850 junior life savers from around New Zealand have descended on the sand for the Oceans 14 under-14 national championships.

The event was one of the largest on the Western Bay sporting calendar with organisers confident competitor numbers would be up on last year.

It began yesterday with a minute's silence held in respect for Harrison Mundy, the 11-year-old from Omanu surf club who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday.

Omanu club competitors and supporters all wore red arm bands in what was billed Red Arm Band Thursday in Harrison's honour.

Omanu team manager Ross Parker said the club was all about family so it was absolutely right that they paid their respects.

"We wanted to respect what the family is going through with the loss of one of their family members, but also respect the amount of effort and time that the Mundys have put into the whole surf lifesaving movement.

"So it was appropriate that everybody, whether they knew them or not, put some time in respecting what they have got. Kids should appreciate what they have got down here because there is one little boy that can't."

Parker said the Western Bay surf clubs were lucky to have the national champs held at the Mount.

"It is definitely a bit of home town advantage for the three local clubs, so we are spoilt and it is a lot of fun.

"I think the adults will get as big a kick out of it as the kids do.

"This is as big as it gets for this age group, probably the up-and-coming age group for surf lifesaving.

"You try to keep the kids involved in the movement and competition is a really good way of doing that."

Day two action gets under way today at 8am and continues over the weekend with finals in the Ironman, beach sprints, surf, board and diamond races set down for Sunday morning.