Midway produced a powerhouse performance across the age groups to finish top overall club at the Eastern Region junior lifesaving title in Gisborne at the weekend ... and the kids were clearly elated with their efforts. Photo / Keepa Digital
Midway produced a powerhouse performance across the age groups to finish top overall club at the Eastern Region junior lifesaving title in Gisborne at the weekend ... and the kids were clearly elated with their efforts. Photo / Keepa Digital
Gisborne’s Midway Surf Life Saving Club took out the Eastern Region junior championships on its home beach by a big margin from nearest rivals Pāpāmoa and Wainui over the weekend.
Dawson Building Midway amassed 436 points across two days of intense competition for 11-14-year-olds.
Bay of Plenty’s Pāpāmoa weresecond on 257 points and Riversun Wainui third on 233 points.
Hawke’s Bay club Waimarama were fourth on 172, followed by Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae on 88.
No other BoP clubs came through for the carnival. The Gisborne Herald understands this was because of the ongoing closure of State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge.
The Eastern Region junior champs produced hard racing in ideal surf and weather conditions over both days of the carnival. Photo / Keepa Digital
“It was an amazing weekend all round for our junior squad,” Midway head coach Jack Gavin said. “There were great performances across all age groups. Our kids showed great skills in the waves and determination while racing with their mates.
“Special mention to our overall age group winners - Zoe Gardner (under-12 girls), Thomas Wade (U12 boys), Bree Barclay (U13 girls), Toby Garrett (U13 boys), Charlotte Willoughby (U14 girls) and Blake Taylor (U14 boys).”
Taylor won the surf race, run-swim-run, diamond and board in his age group.
Midway’s athletes racked up 26 titles, 19 second placings and 19 thirds.
“Huge thanks to our coaching crew of Alice Sparks, Ella Sutton, Emily Petro and Jacqs Kennedy,” Gavin said. “We are so lucky to have great role models imparting wisdom and knowledge to our up-and-coming groms.
“This group of kids are training hard, improving every week and are a real joy to work with. Above all, they are having a whole lot of fun with their mates at the beach.
“Winning the overall club trophy at ERCs is just the cherry on the top.”
Wainui’s points tally featured nine titles, a dozen second placings and 13 thirds.
Alyvia Williams was one of Wainui's standout performers across the championships. Photo / Keepa Digital
“Our juniors had a fantastic two days of competition - a load of great results and unreal performances,” head coach Dion Williams said.
“They have trained hard, sometimes twice a day over the last four months since winter pool events finished, and the results reflected that.
“This is one of our biggest junior squads ever, and every kid was very competitive ... they turned up with a great attitude, had fun and finished the weekend going as hard as they started it.
“Indy Williams, Eva Summerlee, Xavier Booker, Lyv Williams, Tyler Sheldrake, Margot Manson and Summer Hovell all had multiple wins or places. They set the standard that the rest were really striving for.
“We even a couple of new squad members, just started this season ... come away with medals.
“But it’s not just about medals. I’m very proud of each and every kid that raced for Wainui over the two days.”
Waikanae had a small team for the junior ERCs, but their coaches were delighted with their performances and are looking confidently to the Oceans national event at Papamoa. Photo / Supplied
Conditions were perfect for the athletes to challenge themselves.
“Waves, long runs and great competition,” Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae coaches Arna Majstrovic and Emily Gillies said.
“Our athletes demonstrated huge grit, determination and resilience, which we are most proud of.
Majstrovic said the youngsters’ confidence had “skyrocketed” over the season and there was plenty of talent with the potential to go a long way in the sport.
“As a whole team, everyone reached goals and put skills they have practised into racing,” Majstrovic said.
“We are looking forward to the Oceans 26 Festival of Junior Surf Lifesaving in Pāpāmoa, and [seeing] what these young ones can do in the coming years.”
