Gisborne surf lifesavers are taking the long road to Mount Maunganui for the Eastern Region carnival this weekend due to the Waioweka Gorge highway being closed. The Eastern Regional Champs are New Zealand's biggest surf lifesaving event bar the nationals with over 800 athletes taking part. Photo / Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Gisborne surf lifesavers are taking the long road to Mount Maunganui for the Eastern Region carnival this weekend due to the Waioweka Gorge highway being closed. The Eastern Regional Champs are New Zealand's biggest surf lifesaving event bar the nationals with over 800 athletes taking part. Photo / Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
The second-biggest surf lifesaving carnival in New Zealand each summer kicks off on Friday at Mount Maunganui, and Gisborne clubs will be well represented.
The Eastern regionals have traditionally been second only to the New Zealand championships in terms of size.
“For the 62nd year of the event, we willhave a total of 820 surf lifesaving athletes in action from 35 clubs across the country,” Surf Life Saving NZ Eastern Region sport manager Sonia Keepa said.
“Competition starts with the masters competition on Friday morning, then the senior club competition starts at 2pm Friday.”
Keepa said once the wet weather passed, they should be all good weather-wise for the weekend.
Dawson Building Midway will have the biggest team from Gisborne’s three surf lifesaving clubs.
Midway head coach Jack Gavin said his crew were looking forward to a good hit-out.
Rising Midway star Jacqueline Kennedy will be looking to add to her successes at the Eastern Regionals. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media Services
“We have 21 athletes travelling across to the Mount.
“Under-19 girls Ella Sutton, Emily Petro and Jacqueline Kennedy will look to continue their good form from last season.
“Tyrone Evans has been training very well and will be looking to challenge the top guys in the ironman,” Gavin said.
“Sophie Warren will look to feature in the U17 girls’ beach sprint.
“The swell forecast is very healthy, with some solid waves on Friday and 2-3 foot for the rest of the weekend, which will suit our guys nicely.”
Riversun Wainui will have a team of five in action.
“The Fukushima-Hall brothers, Rori and Mako, should go very well, with both in the U17 age group this year and both with a full schedule of events,” Wainui head coach Dion Williams said.
Wainui's small contingent at the ERCs could punch well above their weight with strong performances from the likes of Rori Fukushima-Hall. Photo / Gisborne Herald
“They have trained well and are hopeful of some good results.”
Williams said Klara Pauwels and Zyanja Rudge would contest the U17 women’s division.
“Klara’s a great ski paddler, beach sprinter and beach flagger, a general all-rounder who could show great results after hard work done at training.
“Zyanja is a great swimmer and coming along very well on the board ... [he] could be in the front pack going for placings.
“Betsy Findlay [U15s] is a newcomer into the senior ranks. She’s a great board paddler and beach flagger. We’ll see how she goes. I’m hopeful she will do very well.
“The three girls will make up some U17 relays, which should be a lot of fun for them.”
Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae head coach Arna Majstrovic said her small team had committed to travelling through to Mount Maunganui despite their travel distance being extensively increased due to the Waioweka Gorge closure.
“This is an important event to test ourselves against some of the top athletes in New Zealand, and to put into place all the hard training the athletes have been putting in.
“We won’t have Briana Irving or Seven Mapu this year due to injuries.
“The small, young team we are taking over will have a huge focus on development and learning to race at a senior level,” she said.
“We’re also really happy to have a keen group of eight masters athletes heading over to race on Friday.
“Our masters contingent is building in momentum and, providing the bodies hold together, they’ll be contesting beach and water events as individuals and teams.”
