Midway Surf Life Saving Club haul in 12 medals

Jess McIntyre

Youngsters from the Midway Surf Life Saving Club came home with three gold, five silver and four bronze medals from the Eastern Region Junior Carnival at Waihi.

Organisers compressed the schedule to get events through on Saturday ahead of the remnants of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Under-14 competitors from all over the North Island took part.

Midway finished fifth overall but their points tally was only a handful of points behind the third-placed club.

“Our guys and girls were all the winners of today,” Dawson Building Midway head coach Jack Gavin said.

“It was a huge effort.

“The positive attitude shown by the whole team made for an epic day of racing and we are proud of all our ‘groms'.”

Sam Mathews featured in the u12 board, Lilla Hain in the u13 beach flags, Sophie Phelps in the u11 run-swim-run and “diamond” (ironman), and Indie Nikora in the u12 “diamond”.

Midway's u12 girls' board relay team featured, along with Sophia Castles in the u11 run-swim-run, Sam Mathews in the u12 RSR and Taylor Newman in the u13 board.

They had three athletes who won their age groups — Sophie Phelps (u11 girls), Sophia Castles (u11 girls) and Sam Mathews (u12 boys).