Band of Midway juniors set for heavy medal show

Ella Sutton is among the rising star contingent of Midway surf lifesavers who will be a force in the Gisborne senior championships as the club looks to retain the Ralph Morse Shield for club supremacy. Waikanae stand in their way while Wainui are back after not competing in last year’s senior champs. The Gisborne junior and senior champs start tonight.Picture by Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media Services

Midway look likely to win back-to-back Ralph Morse Shield titles for Gisborne senior surf lifesaving club supremacy from this afternoon and through tomorrow, but the  battle for junior honours could be closer.

Dawson Building Midway broke Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae’s seven-year grip on the shield last year.

The resurgent club tallied 484 points in the senior contest, 175 more than Waikanae.

All three Gisborne clubs — Midway, Waikanae and Riversun Wainui —contested the junior championships last year for surf athletes under the age of 14.

Like this year, it was staged in conjunction with the seniors and the points were more widely spread.

Midway won the junior title as well with a score of 211, with Wainui second on 123, and Waikanae amassing 87.

All three will have their share of junior stars at Midway this weekend, producing a more interesting contest.

But Midway’s contingent of 15-to-19-year-olds, who raced so well last weekend at the Eastern Regional champs in the Mount, look set to dominate the senior part of this weekend’s carnival.

Based on last weekend’s ERC results Midway’s team of 24 seniors should stack up a bigger medal haul in the Gisborne champs.

“It will be another big weekend of racing for the kids,” head coach Jack Gavin said.

“Although the fields won’t be massive, the competition among the squad will keep the quality very high.

“Our under-19 men’s and under-17 women’s age groups will be very competitive.

“Tyron Evans, Jack Lepper, and Angus Blair, in the u19s, could feature in every event. The same goes with Ella Sutton, Jaqs Kennedy, Hannah Webb and Emily Petro, who all featured last week in the ERCs.

“The squad will look to get some more solid race practice for important team events like the board rescue, tube rescue and double skis — events that we don’t get to compete in much.”

Gavin said the Gisborne champs will be “a great day for the entire club”, with juniors, seniors and masters racing together and sitting under the same tent on the beach.

“This very rarely happens so it’s great for club culture and for the ‘groms’ to see what hard work can turn into.”

Midway will have around 45 juniors racing in that competition.

“To top it off, we now have an amazing building to head up to and enjoy a refreshment, prizegiving and each other’s company after a hard day’s racing.”

Waikanae will have “an awesome crew” of 38 in the junior champs.

“And they’re champing at the bit,” club manager Clara Wilson said.

“Our dedicated nippers coaches have been working hard this year to boost the team’s skills and have maximum fun while they’re at it.

“The Ocean Athlete group, coached by Edan Wilson, have had an outstanding summer in the surf, including a two-night camp recently.

“We’re really focused on building our team culture this year and it’s awesome to see those vibes strengthening around the club with these juniors.”

Edan Wilson said the Ocean’ athletes had had “an absolute blast” this summer.

“They’re pushing themselves and each other and going super-hard learning new skills.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how they go at the weekend, our last run before the Oceans (festival of junior surf lifesaving from February 22-25) at the Mount.”

Clara Wilson said the club’s seniors, while a smaller team than usual, had been putting in the hard yards.

“Land crabs Oska Smith and Georgie Beaufoy will be flying the flag on the beach and a crew of committed youngsters and hardcore open clubbies will be contesting the water events over the Friday evening and Saturday morning.

“For us, this event is going to be about supporting all of our seniors in whatever they want to achieve from the day, whether it be an individual overall title, or having fun alongside their mates.”

Riversun Wainui did not contest the senior Gisborne championships last year but had three athletes in action at the ERCs, and they will race this weekend.

Mako Fukushima-Hall raced well in his debut last weekend and Nikau Rudge showed promise also in his first-ever surf carnival.

There will be a handful of blue and white caps competing in the seniors and Wainui head coach Dion Williams said he was thrilled to have senior competitors racing again.

The club’s big contingent of about 40 junior athletes will make their mark.

“I’m really excited about the prospects for the junior carnival,” Williams said. “We have some really talented kids and I cannot wait to see them in action.”

The senior champs feature competitors over 14 while the juniors start at seven although points for their champs are only from the u11 to u14 divisions.

The seniors will contest the board and tube rescue races tonight while the juniors will do their sprint and beach flags events, followed by the senior beach events.

Athletes from Omanu, Coromandel and Waihi will compete in the senior champs.

Tonight’s programme starts at 4.30pm.