Gisborne teams named for NZ Rep Challenge

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

THE Gisborne Tairawhiti open and youth teams have been selected for the New Zealand Representative Challenge to be held at Mount Maunganui later this month.

Midway’s Chris Dawson will captain the open team while clubmate Danielle Scott will lead the youth (under-19) side.

The open team also featues female and male canoe and IRB crews while the youth team have male and female canoe crews, and a three-man under-22 IRB crew.

Both teams are coached by Dion Williams.

The representative challenge is a one-day inter-region points competition to be held at Mount Maunganui on Monday, January 29, following the Eastern Region senior championships.

The BDO Gisborne Tairawhiti teamsOpen team: Chris Dawson (Midway), Matt Scott (Mid), Quaid Thompson (Waikanae), Blake Brown (Mid), Joseph Puddick (Wainui), Harry Dods (Waik), Olivia Corrin (Mid), Lauren Pickett (Waik), Alex Bermingham (Mid), Jessica Blakeman (Mid), Georgie Pitkethley (Waik), Casiey Fyall (Waik).

Male open canoe crew: Alex Bristow, Zach Ferkins, James Blackburne, Dene Moleta.

Female open canoe crew: Courtney Hoskin, Ella Andrew, Ana Naden, Michelle Mitchell.

Male open IRB crew: Yannis Kokkosis, Mitch Brady, Tom van Kregten.

Female open IRB crew: Robbie Shrimpton, Samantha-Jane Harding, Hanna Simpson.

Youth team: Matt Proffit (Waik), Thomas Hart (Waik), Jordan Mclarin (Waik), Sam Middleton (Waik), Nick Proffit (Waik), Louis Birkhead (Wain), Danielle Scott (capt, Mid), Christy Tate (Waik), Ava Smith (Wain), Annabel Higgins (Mid), Brooke Willock (Waik), Briana Irving (Waik).

Male youth canoe crew: Cole Williams, Sam Ferkins, Ben Bristow, Sam Blackburne.

Female youth canoe crew: Anna Ellingham, Holly Hope, Sara Lockwood, Ella van Kregten.

Under-22 IRB crew: Connor Mitchell, Oliver Shivnan, Harry Allan.