IRB nationals will go on

green light: The New Zealand IRB championships will proceed at this stage at Waikanae Beach next month, where this aerial shot was taken when the North Island championships were held there last summer.Picture by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

The New Zealand inflatable rescue boat championships will proceed in Gisborne next month, subject to format changes to meet Covid requirements.

The IRB champs are being held at Waikanae Beach on April 9 and 10.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand events manager Mark Inglis yesterday said at this stage the event would go ahead.

“Until entries close next Wednesday we will not know exactly how the numbers will break down, or how we will run the event, but it's still on at this stage,” he said.

That is great news for the crews from the Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae club, who have been training hard for the championships.

“Postponement or cancellation at any time before or during the event is an ongoing possibility if SLSNZ determines that significant operational capacity and capability issues would impact our ability to deliver the event safely and to the standards required,” Inglis said.

The number of IRB crews entered from around New Zealand will govern how the championships are staged to keep within the 100-person gathering requirements under the red traffic light regime.

“We are expecting around 300 competitors,” Inglis said.

“That would mean we would need at least three distinct groups of 100 to run the competition safely under the Covid guidelines.

“This would mean splitting the competing clubs by age groups and gender.

“That will restrict the sharing of club ‘patients' between crews because patients will not be able to cross over the 100-person groupings.”

Each crew would need their own designated patient for the event, he said.

“Until entries are in we have no idea how the potential splitting off into groups will be structured.”

Inglis said times would be allocated for each group to be at the beach.

“Because competitor numbers will be near the maximum, there will be no spectators, coaches or team managers allowed near the competition arena, and there will be no physical contact allowed with the competitors.”

Medal presentations would take place within the competition arena.

“These are not ordinary times and this will not be an ordinary event,” he said.

“The event managers make no apologies for what needs to be done to keep within government guidelines.”

The national champs have a proud history, filled with action-packed racing, and have always been among the most exciting competitions on the surf lifesaving calendar.

Waikanae will go in as strong contenders for the overall top club.

They were runners-up in the top-club component of last year's champs at Ruakaka in Northland.

Waikanae's top crew of Connor Mitchell and Oliver Shivnan won three titles, as did the club's under-19 men's team, while the women's team picked up three medals.

“We're glad the IRB event's going ahead this year, especially after the cancellation of the New Zealand club champs in Christchurch,” Mitchell said.

“We will have a stronger team than last year and we hope to do well.”