Contingent make most of opportunity

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

The Gisborne contingent at the Bay of Plenty Surf Life Saving Championships at Ohope at the weekend made the most of their hit-out on the beach that will host the New Zealand championships in March.

Highlight of the Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae team's performance was Lachie Falloon's win in the under-17 ironman.

He also won the board race and beach sprint in his age group, was second in the u17 ski, and was third in the open board race.

“Hard training paid dividends with some awesome individual results being achieved,” team manager Calum Wilson said.

“It was good to see Sam Briant put a great board race together and win the silver medal in his age group (u15).”

Nathan Proctor was another standout for the club, winning the u19 ironman, along with the ski and run-swim-run in that age group.

Proctor also finished second in the u19 board and surf races.

Christy Tate won both the open ski and u19 women's ski race.

Emily Gillies raced in the masters section of the carnival, and won the 30-39 years board, ski and iron.

Oska Smith took out the u17 and open beach flags, and was second in the u19 beach sprint

Georgie Pitkethley was second in the u19 women's iron and third in the open women's board race.

Composite teams from Waikanae and Wainui also did well. Hue Cowie (Wainui) and Proctor won the u19 board rescue and Falloon and Proctor combined with Wainui surf athletes Jack Keepa and Jonty Evans to win the u19 tube rescue.

Wainui head coach Dion Williams said his team went well.

“There was some excellent racing on the nationals beach,” he said.

“Our guys and girls are really starting to perform at the pointy end of the season.”

A Riversun Wainui highlight at Ohope was Ava Smith's double victory in the open and u19 women's board races.

“Jack Keepa was running for first in just about every race, and Jonty Evans was close behind in their u17 division,” Williams said.

“The likes of Sofia Zame, Imogen Amor-Bendall, Jay Ryan-Emerre and Ella Arthur also raced well all weekend.”

Dawson Building Midway head coach Matt Sutton said he was happy with his team.

“Sophie Petro's win in the u15 female board race and Jack Lepper's win in the boys' board in the same age group were highlights for us,” he said.

“William Matthews finished runner-up in the u15 boys' run-swim-run, and Petiata Bowden achieved the same result in the u15 girls' run-swim- run. They both raced really well.

“Overall it was a good bit of confidence-building for the team ahead of the final block of training we're getting into now ahead of next month's nationals at Ohope.”

The New Zealand championships will be staged from March 11 to 14.