Good representation at Bay of Plenty champs

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

SURF LIFESAVING

A STRONG contingent of lifeguards from the three Gisborne clubs will have the opportunity this weekend to compete at the venue for next month’s New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships — Ohope Beach.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae, Dawson Building Midway and Riversun Wainui have many of their top competitors going over for the two-day Bay of Plenty championships at Ohope.

“It will be an ideal chance for them to get to grips with the Ohope conditions,” a Gisborne lifesaving spokeswoman said.

Competing for Midway will be a good number of their younger senior members, such as Angus Blair, Anna-Bell Matthews, Jack Lepper, Jessikah Fearnley, Petiata Bowden, Sophie Petro and William Matthews.

Fearnley and Petro were among the club’s standout performers at the Eastern Regional Championships at Mt Maunganui late last month.

In-form Waikanae athletes competing include beach speedster Briana Irving, Christy Tate on ski and Georgie Pitkethley on board, and Lachie Falloon in ironman, board, swim and ski events.

Young beach sprinter and flags exponent Oska Smith will be there, along with Nathan Proctor.

They will be joined by Daniel Beattie, Briana Ingoe, Edan Wilson, Emily Gillies, Freya Wilson, Riley Ingoe and Sam Briant.

Wainui high-achievers Jack Keepa, Hue Cowie and Jonty Evans will be contenders in the under-17 men’s events.

They will be joined by Daizee Rawls, Ella Arthur, Eva Klavs, Hannah-Jayne King, Imogen Amor-Bendall, Jay Ryan-Emerre, Lucy Allan and Sofia Zame.

A championships spokesman said the competition offered all the events available at the 2021 nationals, with the exception of boat events.

“The event draws upon the best of the best, testing both their speed and endurance,” he said.