Gisborne clubs to descend on Whangamata

EASTERN BOUND: Wainui surf lifesaver Imogen Amor-Bendall (left) and Midway’s Olivia Gaddum will be among 60 Gisborne athletes taking part in the Eastern Regional Junior Championships at Whangamata. Picture by Paul Rickard

SURF LIFESAVING

SIXTY young surf athletes from the three Gisborne surf lifesaving clubs travel to Whangamata tomorrow for the Eastern Regional Junior Championships and some top prospects are among them.

Dawson Building Midway have the biggest team of 30 going over.

“This carnival is second only to the Oceans New Zealand championships in size, so it’s important for the kids to get that level of competition,” Midway junior surf coach and manager Jared Phelps said.

“We want to maintain the momentum we showed in the local championships this month, through this carnival and then on to the nationals.”

Midway racked up 380 points in the Gisborne junior titles this month, and finished well ahead of Wainui and Waikanae.

“Sasha Fergus is one who has come on in leaps and bounds over the past three months and would be a title contender in swim, board and diamond events,” Phelps said.

“The surf is looking good at Whangamata with about a metre, maybe a bit more, and that will be a good challenge for them.

“That suits our kids because it’s what they train in.”

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae will have 21 competitors there.

“Chloe Kapene in under-12 board events and Oska Smith in under-14 beach flags and board would be among our contenders,” Waikanae junior surf assistant coach Michelle Mitchell said.

“Kimberley Hayes in under-14 swim events and Alex Davies in the under-13 beach sprint could also do well.”

She said it would be good for them all to get experience at a provincial level.

“The eastern regional champs are among the biggest events they can take part in before they go to Oceans national championships next month.”

Riversun Wainui will have nine athletes involved.

Sonia Keepa, the club’s junior surf coach, said Imogen Amor-Bendall could feature in the run-swim-run, surf race, the board and the diamond (a combination of swim and board).

“In the under-11 girls, Charlie Keepa looks strong in the swim and diamond events.

“We see this as such a good stepping-stone event heading towards the national champs.”