Midway strong in juniors

In the shallows: Gabrielle Searle, of Midway, leaves the water in the under-12 board race during the Gisborne junior surf lifesaving championships on Monday. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Midway won the overall “top club” title at the Gisborne junior surf lifesaving championships in a carnival that brought out the best in the youngsters from all three Gisborne clubs.

The championships were shifted from Saturday due to the big seas and Monday's rescheduled main day brought ideal weather and surf conditions at Midway.

Dawson Building Midway finished with 349 points, Riversun Wainui 247 and Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae 119.

“It was a fantastic event,” Surf Life Saving New Zealand club development officer Sonia Keepa said.

“It was great to see so much support and to see the development of the youngsters involved in our junior surf programmes across Tairawhiti.

“They all gave it their best with big smiles on their faces. The sport side of lifesaving is alive and healthy in these young up-and-comers.”

The eight-to-14-year-olds were tested out in a metre of surf on Monday.

Midway junior coach Jared Phelps said his young team were “awesome”.

“They were firing from the start and won a lot of podium places right across the day, on the beach and in the water.”

He declined to pick out individuals.

“Seeing how well our teams went was a highlight for me, seeing the kids who hadn't competed before front up and exceed their own expectations,” Phelps said.

“It was also great to see the competition was not one-sided — all three clubs went well.”

Midway finished with 17 team titles and 36 individual titles.

Wainui head coach Dion Williams said he was excited about the way his young charges went.

“The heart the kids put into it was just so good to watch — their attitude and their excitement.

“We had six of the age-group winners, which we are stoked about, and we did so well in a bunch of events.”

Williams's daughter Brooke was one of the club's standouts, winning all her under-8 events.

Mako Fukushima-Hall did the same thing in the u12 boys' age group.

Wainui finished with seven team titles and 25 individual titles.

Waikanae club manager Clara Wilson said they, too, were really happy with how their young team went.

“The surf was challenging but they coped well.

“The big focus for our team was to step out of their comfort zone and use their skills in the sizeable conditions.

“Jade Hopper put in some great swims and board paddles to win the u10 surf and diamond races.

“Felix Sparks caught the body surf wave of the day to win the u14 boys' surf race.

“Jacob Swann-Finau and Georgie Beaufoy dominated the sand in the u9 and u12 sprints and flags,” Wilson said.

“Our two-kilometre beach relay team had a great win and Chloe Kapene won all her events in the u14 division.”

The championships concluded last night with the u14 male and female rescue events.

The championships concluded at Midway Beach last night, with the u14 male and female board and tube rescue events. Midway took all four titles.

: Brooke Williams (Wainui) 1; Alyvia Williams (Wainui) 2; Olive Moleta (Wainui) 3. Male: Jack Murphy (Wainui) 1; Waylon Lynch (Wainui) 2; Mason Rennie (Waikanae) and Xavier Booker (Waikanae) equal 3.

Bridie Alexander (Wainui) and Sophia Castles (Midway) equal 1; Zoe Keepa (Wainui) 3. Male: Jacob Swann-Finau (Waikanae) and Thomas Hain (Midway) equal 1; Blake Taylor (Midway) 3.

Indie Nikora (Midway) and Jade Hopper (Waikanae) equal 1; Ella Hayward (Midway) 3. Male: Sam Matthews (Midway) 1; Jaxon Pardoe (Midway) and Arthur Tilghman (Wainui) equal 2.

Taylor Newman (Midway) 1; Lilla Hain (Midway) 2; Charlotte McDiarmid (Wainui) 3. Male: Rori Fukushima-Hall (Wainui) 1; Zan Taylor (Midway) 2; Oscar Hayward (Midway) 3.

Gabrielle Searle (Midway) 1; Georgie Beaufoy (Waikanae) 2; Isobel Arthur (Wainui) and Georgia McKendry (Waikanae) equal 3. Male: Mako Fukushima-Hall (Wainui) 1; Riley Knight (Midway) 2; Coen-Theros Brown (Waikanae) 3.

Charlie Keepa (Wainui) 1; Ella Sutton (Midway) 2; Emily Petro (Midway) 3. Male: Harry Hayward (Midway) 1; Quinn Lockwood (Wainui) 2; Jerome Tamatea (Waikanae) 3.

Chloe Kapene (Waikanae) 1; Ruby Williams (Waikanae) 2; Eva Kinsella (Midway) 3. Male: Yahni Brown (Midway) 1; Felix Sparks (Waikanae) 2; Austin Fergus (Midway) and Max Phillips (Wainui) equal 3.