Gizzy team tops regional contest

CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS: Gisborne are the 2019 New Zealand Representative Challenge champions after they finished 20 points ahead of their nearest rivals at Midway Beach yesterday. The Gisborne team are, back (from left): Cory Hutchings (coach), Brent Mitchell (coach), Harry Allan, Lachie Falloon, Matthew Scott, Seven Mapu, Ruben Bronlund, Jack Keepa, Quaid Thompson, Jordan McLarin, Britta Carroll (pink cap), Ana Naden (pink cap), Yannis Kokkosis and Dion Williams (head coach). Front: Mitch Mitchell (team manager), Katie Kirkpatrick, Ava Smith, Georgie Pitkethley, Olivia Corrin (captain), Christy Tate, Briana Irving, Lauren Pickett, Alex Bermingham, Sonia Keepa (team manager) and Renee Wikaire (team manager). Keepa Digital picture

SURF LIFESAVING

Gisborne have been crowned 2019 New Zealand Representative Challenge champions after a 20-point victory over their nearest surf lifesaving rivals at Midway Beach yesterday.

The non-stop, action-packed carnival drew regional teams from Taranaki, the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Capital Coast and Hawke’s Bay, and 1.5-metre surf proved a real test.

Gisborne won with a score of 173.5 points, with Taranaki second on 153, Bay of Plenty third on 148, Coromandel fourth on 137, Capital Coast fifth on 99 and Hawke’s Bay sixth on 93.

Each team comprised 19 or 20 athletes covering a variety of surf lifesaving disciplines including swim, paddle, sprint, canoes and inflatable rescue boats (IRB).

Gisborne coach Dion Williams said he was really proud of his team, and the way they performed.

“The surf stayed up and the Gizzy surf skills told the story,” he said.

“We had five only senior competitors, that’s over 19 years of age, with the rest either under 19 or under 16. They fronted up to the best the other regions had to offer.”

He said consistency was the key to the team’s performance.

“They went well in every event. Our leaders — Olivia Corrin and Matt Scott — led the team and the young ones so well, with their own skills and leadership qualities.”

Williams said the way the Gisborne clubs trained together and supported each other had made a real difference in taking the regional win.

“There is a really good vibe here in Gisborne as all three of our clubs train together and I think we’ve just fed off that.”

Corrin said they went into the competition to have some fun, with no expectations.

“To end up the winners felt great for us all.

“I am really proud of them all too. This will be a great confidence boost for the younger athletes.”

Scott said winning felt “pretty cool”.

“I think the young ones will have learned a lot.

“They just need to keep charging, and keep doing the things they are doing in their competition.”

Among the toughest events on the schedule were the oceanman and oceanwoman events, won by Scott (Gisborne) and Claudia Kelly (Taranaki).

Gisborne and Waikanae speedster Jamie Gedye competed for Taranaki and won the women’s beach sprint and beach flags ahead of her clubmate and Gisborne team member Briana Irving.

Taranaki and Gisborne dominated the IRB races and Gisborne dominated the surf canoes.

One of the younger Gisborne team members Ava Smith summed it up when she said: “It feels so good to have been part of this team, and to win, especially here in Gisborne!”