Midway top club for juniors

PADDLE POWER: Midway's Sam Matthews ploughs through the water in the under-11 board race in the Tairawhiti junior surf lifesaving championships at the weekend. Matthews won the u11 diamond, surf and run-swim-run races, and Midway had most points at the carnival. Picture by Paul Rickard

MIDWAY came out on top in the Tairawhiti junior surf lifesaving championships at the weekend.

Dawson Building Midway's under-14 juniors amassed 371 points across racing at the Midway sand track on Friday night, and then in flat surf conditions at Waikanae on Saturday.

Midway's youngsters took 19 team and 22 individual titles to record a comprehensive overall points victory.

Riversun Wainui scored 176 points for second place. They took two team and 21 individual titles.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae were third on 161 points, and took four team and 11 individual titles.

Midway dominated many of the relay events, among them the under-14 and u12 Grand Cameron relays and the u10 Cameron relay.

Their standout individual performers included Harry Hayward who won the u14 beach flags, surf race, board and diamond races and the run-swim-run.

Sam Matthews took out the u11 diamond, surf race and run-swim-run.

In the u9 division, Donovan Kupenga was a standout with wins in the beach sprint and flags, the diamond, and the run-wade-run.

Midway junior surf co-ordinator Jared Phelps said that overall it was a great result for the club.

“It gave our kids a chance to compete, something they have not been able to do so far this summer.”

The team results were very pleasing, he said.

“The kids just love being together in teams.

“That's where all the points are and it's so much more enjoyable to be in races with your mates.”

Wainui's top performers included Mako Fukushima-Hall who won the u13 beach flags and sprint, the run-swim-run, the diamond and the surf race.

His brother Rori took out the u12 surf race, the run-swim-run, board, diamond and flags.

Indy Williams won the u8 bodyboard and beach sprint, and her cousin Alyvia won the u9 board and diamond.

Wainui head coach Dion Williams said the junior champs were fantastic.

“So many young groms running around and going hard . . . it was great.

“I'm really happy with Wainui's efforts.

“It was less about results and more about getting amongst it and enjoying it, which our crew absolutely did.”

Waikanae's standout efforts included wins to Sierra Blumfield in the u14 surf race and run-swim-run, and Georgie Beaufoy's wins in the u13 beach flags and sprint.

Claire Hopper was another to feature, with wins in the u13 run-swim-run and surf race, along with Jacob Swann-Finau, who won the u10 beach sprint and flags.

In a standout team performance Waikanae won the U9 Cameron relay.

“The coaches were really stoked with how the kids went,” club manager Clara Wilson said.

“It's great to see their confidence growing. We had quite a few racing for the first time.

“They raced really well and, most importantly, had a lot of fun.”

“Thanks must go to Sonia Keepa and her crew for making it possible for the championships to happen.”

The Ocean Athletes national championships scheduled for Mt Maunganui at the end of the month were cancelled by Surf Life Saving New Zealand on Saturday.

“That news has devastated all three local clubs,” Williams said.

“So to finish our junior season with such a good local championship carnival on Friday and Saturday was at least something for our young ones.”

Phelps said it was good the call was made early about the national junior championships.

“Now we can plan alternative events for the kids as a club, rather than find out about the Ocean Athletes championships at the last minute.”