Midway's effort at the national surf lifesaving championships will again be spearheaded by long-time New Zealand representative Cory Taylor, who is fresh from second place in the open ironman at the Queensland senior champs at Maroochydore Beach last weekend. Photo / Jamie Troughton – Dscribe Media Services
Midway's effort at the national surf lifesaving championships will again be spearheaded by long-time New Zealand representative Cory Taylor, who is fresh from second place in the open ironman at the Queensland senior champs at Maroochydore Beach last weekend. Photo / Jamie Troughton – Dscribe Media Services
Midway welcomes back its Australia-based big guns for the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships at Ōhope Beach, starting tomorrow.
However, fellow Gisborne club Waikanae will be without two of their stars due to injury.
Gisborne’s three clubs will have close to 80 athletes in action at the AON-sponsored champs, whichstart with the masters (over-30s) tomorrow morning, followed by the first senior club races in the afternoon.
Dawson Building Midway has 27 senior athletes over the age of 14 competing in the club titles.
“We have competitive teams in nearly every single event,” Midway coach Jack Gavin said. “This is the first time we have open teams without having to race juniors up in age group in a very long time, which is super-exciting for the club.
“Both [NZ representatives] Cory Taylor and Olivia Corrin are back [from the Gold Coast] and really looking forward to leading the open team, pushing for podiums across most events.
“Cory is coming off some incredible form in Australia. He came second at the Queensland state titles in the ironman over the weekend.”
Yahni Brown and Sophie Petro have also returned from living and training in Australia to represent Midway.
“Yahni and Sophie have gained solid racing experience after a big season on the Gold Coast,” Gavin said.
Midway's Sophie Petro has gained a lot of experience living and training in Australia, which should put her in good stead for the New Zealand surf lifesaving champs. Photo / Jamie Troughton – Dscribe Media Services
“Our Under-19 females – Ella Sutton, Emily Petro and Jaqs Kennedy – will be strong across most events and will look to feature in board, ski and taplin relays.
“Our ‘beachies’ – Lilla Hain, Sophie Warren, Ida Berg and James Hamlyn – have been doing some amazing work with Arna Majstrovic [Waikanae head coach] and will be looking for strong performances in their respective age groups.”
Midway speedster Lilla Hain was strong at the Battle of the Bays and Gisborne championships and will be a contender in her beach sprint and flags events. Photo / Keepa Digital
Riversun Wainui’s champs start tomorrow morning when its 27 masters athletes line up for sand and ocean action.
“We are very excited for the national champs,” head coach Dion Williams said.
Wainui will have 24 in the senior events, including 16 (four teams) in the men’s and women’s canoe races.
“We are very proud to field such a big team. Our medallists from last year are back for another crack ... brothers Mako and Rori Fukushima-Hall in the board race, beach flags and iron race.
Wainui brothers Mako (foreground) and Rori Fukushima-Hall (centre) will look to build on their medal-winning performances from the nationals in Gisborne in 2025. Photo / Keepa Digital
“Betsy Findlay, in the beach flags and sprints, is dynamite and has trained very well. She is also a great board paddler.
Wainui's Betsy Findlay competed well in various events of the Gisborne championships last month and will be one to watch at the nationals. Photo / Keepa Digital
“Klara Pauwels has put in a lot of work on the surf ski this year and has a goal to make the final and give it a real go. She’s also a great beach flagger.
“Zyanja Rudge is a great swimmer and board paddler, and is another ready to get in the finals and have a crack at doing well.”
Williams said those athletes would make up teams in the U17 ranks.
“We have two open ladies’ canoe teams and two open men’s teams, which will make for a lot of fun and good banter on the beach.
Wainui will have four canoe crews in action at Ōhope in the masters and senior championships. Photo / Gisborne Herald
“They were gold medallists in the masters last year and mean business on the water in the masters and senior club titles.
“Fingers crossed they can repeat the good form again this season. They have put in the hard work, so [there’s] no reason why not.”
Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae head coach Arna Majstrovic said the club was proud of the athletes who had committed themselves throughout the season to be able to race on the big stage.
Zach Ferkins has been a strong performer for Waikanae and is likely be one of their shining lights in the ski events. Photo / Keepa Digital
Waikanae will have seven competitors in the masters and eight in the senior club champs.
Unfortunately, they will go in without star beach event exponents Briana Irving, who achieved the open women’s beach flags and beach sprint double last year, and Seven Mapu, who won the open men’s beach flags and was second in the beach sprint. Both are injured.
Reigning open men’s beach sprint champion Oska Smith has shifted from Waikanae to the Omanu Beach club.
“We have a small senior squad racing, but they are strong, fit and ready to take on the challenge,” Majstrovic said
“They have been training hard and proved throughout the season that they have realistic goals to make finals at nationals.
“We also have an awesome masters crew of eight, who are building momentum in our club.
“We are lucky that on low tide, Waikanae is very like Ōhope, so we feel as though we have prepared as well as we can.
The champs feature the battle for the Alan Gardner Memorial Trophy as top overall club. Bay of Plenty’s Omanu Beach are the defending champions, winning it for the first time in their history last year and ending Mount Maunganui’s 12-year reign.
