Medals aplenty at Eastern champs

PRIDE OF THEIR CLUBS: Medallists from all three Gisborne clubs at the Eastern Region Junior Surf Life Saving Championships included, back row (from left): Lachie Falloon, Nathan Proctor, Nic Proffit, Ruben Bronlund and Clayden Hope. Third row: Jack Keepa, George Allan, Harry Allan, Kent Harding, Briana Irving and Libby Briant. Second row: Ella Arthur, Lucy Allan, Imogen Amor-Bendall, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Sasha Fergus, Sophie Petro, Emily Moore, Olivia Gaddum and Jessie Kapene. Front: Rubi Hart, Chloe Kapene, Amelia Arthur, Charlie Keepa, Danielle Blair, Ruby Williams and Jack Lepper. Picture by Liam Clayton

THE long trip to Waihi for Gisborne clubs was rewarded with plenty of medals at the Eastern Region Junior Surf Life Saving Championships last weekend. As well as top-three finishes in various individual and team disciplines, the youngsters also claimed overall age-group success, recognising the breadth of talent throughout the three clubs.

The following reports were provided by the clubs.

WaikanaeIt was a hectic weekend on Waihi Beach with a big groundswell stirring up some strong surf and forcing frequent programme changes.

“We were stoked with how our junior clubbies (aged 8 to 14 years) handled themselves in such big, challenging conditions,” said Waikanae junior coach and team manager Calum Wilson. “There were some very pleasing performances in the swim, board and beach events, and several of our younger athletes won pverall points medals.

“Our older kids really came through in the team events, with wins in the beach relay, board relay and board rescue events, and finished the weekend with a win in the coveted Grand Cameron relay.”

The kids are now hitting training hard again with head coach Cory Hutchings in preparation for the Oceans ’17 junior nationals (at Mt Maunganui in March).

WainuiAll members of the Wainui team rose to the occasion. Jack Keepa, in the under-13 boys’ division, displayed fantastic water skills in winning the surf race. He also won the run-swim-run, was second in the diamond, beach sprint and beach flags, and was top overall u13 boy.

In the u9 girls’ arena, Amelia Arthur was third in the run-wade-run, while Charlie Keepa was third in the diamond. In the beach flags, Amelia and Charlie dominated, with Amelia just taking out this event from Charlie, who had to settle for second place. Amelia went on to be placed second u9 girl overall.

Imogen Amor-Bendall blew away the Bay of Plenty girls as she won the u12 surf race. She was third in the diamond and third overall in u12 girls. In the u14 boys’ division, Sam Mason-Green won his signature event, the beach sprint, and backed that up with third place in the beach flags.

Ella Arthur was third in the u11 girls’ beach sprint, and Lucy Allan was third in the u12 girls’ beach flags.

Co-coach Sonia Keepa said the club’s athletes achieved fantastic results.

“We are also really happy with the performance of the team as a whole, with the majority qualifying through to the finals rounds,” she said. “Our build-up to Oceans is right on track.”

MidwayComing off the back of winning the Gisborne junior champs, the Dawson Building Midway kids were looking forward to the Eastern regional champs, with a much larger field. Conditions in Waihi were challenging, both physically and mentally.

“They all competed really well and their training is starting to pay off heading towards their last event of the season — the Oceans at the beginning of March,” Midway junior surf convener Tania Gray said.

Special mention to Jared Phelps, Olivia Corrin and Jess Blakeman, who have really pushed these kids to the next level in their training.

ResultsThe Eastern Region Junior Surf Life Saving Championships were held at Waihi Beach last weekend. Results from Waikanae, Wainui and Dawson Building Midway were:

Under-9 girls — Run-wade-run: Amelia Arthur (Wainui) 3. Diamond race: Charlie Keepa (Wain) 3. Beach flags: Amelia Arthur (Wain) 1, Charlie Keepa (Wain) 2.

U9 boys — Beach flags: Jerome Tamatea (Waikanae) 2.

U10 boys — Beach flags: Lukas Ludwig (Waik) 1.

U10 girls — Beach flags: Rubi Hart (Waik) 1. Beach sprint: Chloe Kapene (Waik) 2. Beach relay: Waikanae (Danielle Blair, Chloe Kapene, Rubi Hart, Ruby Williams) 1. Surf race: Chloe Kapene (Waik) 2.

U11 girls — Run-swim-run: Jodiesha Kirkpatrick (Midway) 3. Beach sprint: Ella Arthur (Wain) 3. Diamond race: Sophie Petro (Mid) 1.

U11 boys — Board race: Jack Lepper (Mid) 2.

U12 boys — Surf race: Angus Blair (Mid) 3. Beach flags: George Allan (Waik) 1. Run-swim-run: Angus Blair (Mid) 2. Beach sprint: George Allan (Waik) 3.

U12 girls — Surf race: Imogen Amor-Bendall (Wain) 1. Beach flags: Lucy Allan (Wain) 3. Run-swim-run: Sasha Fergus (Mid) 2. Diamond race: Sasha Fergus (Mid) 2, Imogen Amor-Bendall (Wain) 3. Board relay: Midway (Sophie Petro, Sasha Fergus, Olivia Gaddum) 1.

U12 mixed — Grand Cameron relay: Midway (Bella Fitzharris, William Matthews, Angus Blair, Sasha Fergus, Jack Lepper, Olivia Gaddum) 3.

U13 girls — Beach sprint: Jessie Kapene (Waik) 3.

U13 boys — Surf race: Jack Keepa (Wain) 1. Beach sprint: Jack Keepa (Wain) 2, Oliver Davies (Waik) 3. Beach flags: Jack Keepa (Wain) 2. Run-swim-run: Jack Keepa (Wain) 1, Lachie Falloon (Waik) 3. Board race: Lachie Falloon (Waik) 2. Diamond race: Lachie Falloon (Waik) 1, Jack Keepa (Wain) 2.

U13 mixed — Beach relay: Waikanae (Oliver Davies, Lachie Falloon, Jessie Kapene, Giorgia Hart) 3.

U14 girls — Board race: Holly Williams (Waik) 2. Beach sprint: Briana Irving (Waik) 1. Board relay: Waikanae A (Holly Williams, Edan Wilson Jessie Kapene) 3.

U14 boys — Beach flags: Sam Mason-Green (Wain) 3. Beach sprint: Sam Mason-Green (Wain) 1, Clayden Hope (Waik) 3. Board race: Ruben Bronlund (Mid) 1. Diamond race: Ruben Bronlund (Mid) 1, Nathan Proctor (Waik) 2. Board rescue: Waikanae B (Lachie Falloon, Clayden Hope) 1, Waikanae A (Nic Proffit, Tom van Kregten) 3. Board relay: Waikanae A (Clayden Hope, Nathan Proctor, Tom van Kregten) 1.

U14 mixed — Beach relay: Waikanae A (Briana Irving, Libby Briant, Clayden Hope, Nic Proffit) 1. Grand Cameron relay: Waikanae (Briana Irving, Nathan Proctor, Edan Wilson, Clayden Hope, Holly Williams, Nic Proffit) 1.

Mixed — 2km relay: Midway (Ruben Bronlund, Emily Moore, Angus Blair, Sophie Petro) 2.

Overall age-group placings: Amelia Arthur (Wain) 2nd in u9 girls; Chloe Kapene (Waik) 1st in u10 girls, Rubi Hart (Waik) 2nd in u10 girls; Lukas Ludwig (Waik) 3rd in u10 boys; Imogen Amor-Bendall (Wain) 3rd in u12 girls; George Allan (Waik) 2nd in u12 boys; Jack Keepa (Wain) 1st in u13 boys, Lachie Falloon (Waik) 3rd in u13 boys; Ruben Bronlund (Mid) 3rd in u14 boys.

Overall points: Waikanae 60, 5th; Wainui 29, 8th; Midway 28, 9th (won by Whangamata on 103, from Omanu on 86 and Mt Maunganui on 84).