Whangamata take out junior surf carnival

GREAT EVENT: Whangamata won the Eastern Region title at Waihi Beach at the weekend. PHOTO:FILE

Some outstanding performances from Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club's junior surf athletes at Waihi Beach during the weekend has seen them take out the title of Eastern Region Junior Champions.

With fewer than 50 athletes, the club finished on 103 points, taking the top spot from reigning champions Omanu Beach.

While the result was thanks to an overall team performance, Whangamata's Finn Freemantle and Eden Wood produced some top racing in the Under 8 age category, either winning or placing in all of their individual events which helped the club shoot to an early lead on day one.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service finished in third with Papamoa and Gisborne's Waikanae in fourth and fifth respectively.

The championships drew in more than 600 athletes from 22 clubs and caters for the slightly younger athletes from 7-14 years, unlike the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (Oceans) which caters for 10-14 years.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand eastern region sport manager Mark Inglis says Saturday was a testing day of racing with a solid 1.5-metre swell pushing the high tide right up on to the beach near the dunes.

"This saw us having to change the programme completely. We were very appreciative of the clubs, athletes, managers, coaches and parents who worked with us to get through all of the events that we possibly could, given the conditions," he said.

The second day of racing on Sunday saw a change to near-perfect conditions with a half metre swell and offshore winds for the Under 11-Under 14 age groups to finish their remaining events.

"As with all surf sports events, we are at the mercy of the conditions on the day so we're very grateful for everyone's patience and for the help of our officials, water safety crew and volunteers for ensuring that the event ran smoothly."

This year a new Club Spirit and Attitude Award was voted on by the officials and was awarded to Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club for their athletes' conduct and cheerful disposition during the event.

While it's a regional competition, the Eastern Region Junior Championships is open to all Junior Surf members and this year attracted competition from the Central Region including Hawke's Bay's Westshore and Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Clubs and Taranaki's East End, Fitzroy and New Plymouth Old Boys as well as Northern Region Clubs Mairangi Bay, Bethells Beach, Muriwai, Red Beach and Orewa.

"It was particularly great to see the efforts made by the out-of-region clubs which travelled to take part this weekend. We hope it provided them with a great opportunity to test their skills ahead of the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (Oceans 17) which will take place at Mount Maunganui in a couple of weeks," Inglis said.