Gisborne lifeguards battle for supremacy

STAND OUT COMPETITOR: New Midway club head coach Jack Gavin said that Angus Blair would give good competition in all his under-19 events at this year’s Surf Life Saving New Zealand pool rescue national championships in Auckland this weekend. Picture by Paul Rickard

The first Surf Life Saving New Zealand pool rescue national championships in two years will take place this weekend in Auckland, and 10 athletes from the Gisborne surf clubs will take part.

Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the SLSNZ pool nationals last year.

Pool rescue swimmers from across the country will converge on the National Aquatic Centre in Auckland to battle for the Paul Kent Memorial Trophy.

At the last nationals, in 2020 in Hamilton, the title was shared by Orewa and Mt Maunganui. Both teams collected 178 points across the junior and senior competitions.

“It's been a tough couple of years for everyone involved in surf lifesaving sports events in New Zealand,” SLSNZ sport manager Lewis McClintock said.

“We've had to call off events or restrict numbers for Covid-related reasons, so to be able to run a full programme for the pool rescue nationals in Auckland this weekend is great.

“We're really looking forward to seeing everyone in one place and being able to enjoy some great-quality racing.”

Dawson Building Midway will have nine athletes in action.

“Angus Blair would be our standout competitor,” new Midway club head coach Jack Gavin said.

“He should give all his under-19 events a good crack, particularly the obstacle race over 200 metres.

“We have six under-17 girls who race really well too.

“They are strong individually, and we will have some strong team combinations as well.

“Just about all of our group medalled at the eastern regional surf lifesaving pool championships a month ago.”

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae will have just one competitor taking part this weekend — Nathan Proctor will race in all of the open events.

“It's expected Nathan will be particularly strong in the manikin tow events,” a club spokeswoman said.

The club's other pool competitors have yet to return from the world lifesaving championships in Italy.

Riversun Wainui will not have competitors in action this weekend.

SLSNZ sport manager McClintock said that with the World Championships having just finished in Riccione, Italy, swimmers had plenty of inspiration as they prepared for the event.

“Having seen the results from the regional pool rescue competitions, it's fair to say we're expecting a lot of great racing,” he said.

“We've got really strong numbers racing across all the age groups, which is encouraging.”

The pool rescue nationals mark the end of the winter season as lifeguards around the country gear up for the return of the public to beaches, patrols to resume and the red and yellow flags to go back up.

“This event continues to serve as an important opportunity for our lifeguards and aspiring lifeguards to develop important lifesaving skills for the summer season ahead,” McClintock said.

The event starts tomorrow morning with junior events running all day.

The senior competition takes over from Saturday morning, with proceedings due to wrap up mid-afternoon on Sunday when the Paul Kent Memorial Trophy winners will be crowned.