Birkhead named Wainui's Lifeguard and Club Person of the Year

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

SURF LIFESAVING

LOUIS Birkhead and Jack Keepa were the big winners at Wainui Surf Life Saving Club’s prize-giving this month.

Birkhead received the Lifeguard of the Year and the Club Person of the Year awards for his commitment across all areas of club life.

Birkhead took courses to further himself as a lifeguard and official, and used those skills to contribute where and when needed while maintaining his surf sport training and competition commitments.

Jack Keepa received the award for Club Sports Person of the Year. At 14, he is the youngest to win this award, which followed a year of achievements across a wide range of disciplines. They included pool rescue events, mini endurance and multi-discipline events, the Oceans and the nationals.

Keepa also won the awards for waterman, senior swim and under-14 male sportsman of the year.

Guest speaker and club member Laura Quilter spoke about culture and values, sharing what she had learned in her years in elite-level sport.

She highlighted the importance of having fun and enjoying yourself, remembering where you came from, and handling the ups and downs it took to get to where you wanted to go.

Geoff Thorpe, managing director of club principal sponsor Riversun, said talent on its own would get you only part of the way. It was the hard work to make the most of talent that made the difference for athletes such as those honoured in the prize-giving.

Head coach and club captain Dion Williams said he was thrilled with the commitment and attitude of the athletes, and the culture those attributes helped create in all aspects of the club.

Award winners —

Club Person of the Year: Louis Birkhead.

Sports Person of the Year: Jack Keepa.

Lifeguard of the Year: Louis Birkhead.

Patrol Person of the Year: Matt Logan.

Emerging Lifeguard of the Year: Ben Hutchings.

SLA: Jovan Potter, Ben Barker, Hannah King, Ava Smith, Leah Scholefield, Sam Meban, Ben Hutchings, Jonty Evans, Jack Keepa.

Crewman’s Award: Luke Whibley.

Senior Lifeguard IRB Award: Louis Birkhead, Luke Whibley.

Senior Sport Awards

Swim Cup Male: Jack Keepa.

Swim Cup Female: Abby Logan.

Board Cup Male: Jack Virtue.

Board Cup Female: Ava Smith.

Ski Cup Male: Louis Birkhead.

Iron Cup Female: Ava Smith.

Iron Cup Male – Louis Birkhead.

Canoe Cup: Open/master women’s team Anelia Evans, Moira Lee, Sophie Burns.

IRB Team Cup: IRB Open crew (Yannis Kokkosis, Mitch Brady, Katie Kirkpatrick).

Oceans Awards

U14 Sports Male: Jack Keepa.

U14 Sports Female: Imogen Amor Bendall.

Most Improved Male: Jonty Evans.

Most Improved Female: Ella Arthur.

Waterman Award: Jack Keepa.

Shot Bro for team spirit, effort and grit: Maggie Preston.

Nippers Awards

Most improved

U5: Moana Fukushima-Hall. U6/7: Isabelle Evans. U8/9: GP Singh. U10: Paloma Ryan. U11/12: Omanaia Harrington. U13/14: Arapeta Peachy.

Energy and enthusiasm

U5: Emma Venter. U6/7: Abhnay Singh.

U8/9: Jack Long. U10: Sofie and Tasmin Dons. U11/12: Omahia Harrington. U13/14: Alice Lofving.

Good sport

U5: Donnie Thomas. U6/7: Filip Lofving.

U8/9: Lela Watters. U10: Charlie Keepa. U11/12: Hannah Webb. U13/14: Theo Weatherley.