“It was as high-performance an event as New Zealand could produce at this stage and it was incredible my team came out on top,” Riversun Wainui's Williams said.
“The racing was short, fast and intense.
“It was really worth it . . . so great to have an event on for everyone.
“It reinvigorated the soul in these testing Covid times.”
Falloon and Proctor are both members of Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae.
Briana Irving and Oska Smith, also of Waikanae, and Dawson Building Midway's Sophie Petro were in the team that finished third overall. Irving blitzed the field in the beach sprint.
Waikanae's Jack Keepa, Georgie Pitkethley and Seven Mapu were in the team that finished fourth.
A feature of their performance was the win by Keepa and Pitkethley in the board and tube rescue relays.
“It was very exciting and close racing for most of the competition,” eastern regional sports manager Sonia Keepa said.
“Just a few points separated the top four or five teams at some stages of the three-hour event. The surf was small but testing.
“It was a well-run event, and a thoroughly worthwhile hit-out for the athletes. It drew a good crowd, who were kept well back from the athletes. Everyone watching wore masks.”
Keepa said a training day on Saturday, attended by a wider range of Gisborne athletes, was also well worthwhile.
A highlight that day was Jack Keepa's win in the ironman race.
The lifeguards now wait and see what develops Covid-wise as they continue their preparations for the national championships in Christchurch in March.
