Good 'hit-out' to start season

STANDOUT PERFORMER: Waikanae’s Lachie Falloon started his summer of surf lifesaving with a win in the ironman at the Whangamata Classic carnival at the weekend in his first season in under-16 competition. File picture

SURF LIFESAVING

FLAT sea conditions made for a testing start to the 2018-19 season for Gisborne surf lifesavers who took part in the annual Whangamata Classic at the weekend.

Waikanae had the biggest Gisborne contingent there with 17 competitors. Midway and Wainui clubs also had representatives among the 600 entries for the event.

Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings said Lachie Falloon in the under-16s was a standout.

“This was Lachie’s first carnival since he came up to the under-16s from Ocean Athletes,” he said.

Falloon won the u16 ironman, and was second in the surf race, third in the ski and fifth in the board.

“It was a really outstanding performance from him,” Hutchings said.

“He’s a very determined competitor, which sets him up for good results. Lachie’s very motivated.”

Hutchings also picked out Seven Mapu for special mention.

“Seven won the u16 beach flags and beach sprint.”

Jamie Gedye won the open women’s beach sprint and beach flags.

“Christy Tate was a standout on the ski, with a second in the open women’s final and a third in the under-19 event,” Hutchings said.

Lauren Pickett and Georgie Pitkethley also raced well in craft events.

“Overall, it was a good start,” Hutchings said.

“It was a good hit-out with some good individual results. But there’s still plenty to work on.”

Wainui’s small team featured in the board events.

Ava Smith finished runner-up in both the u16 and open women’s board finals.

The Wainui girls won the u19 women’s board relay, and were runners-up in the open women’s board relay.

“I was really happy with the hit-out we had,” head coach Dion Williams said.

“The racing was hard and fast, which was exactly what we needed to start the season. They were really long races in totally flat conditions.”

Midway’s Matt Scott finished third in the open men’s surf race, sixth in the board and eighth in the ironman, and Will Pittar was eighth in the u19 ski final.