Morse Shield not shifting

EYES ON THE BEACH: Waikanae’s Matthew Proffit on his way to fifth place in the under-19 ironman at the Champion of the Bays surf carnival. Pictures by Paul Rickard

MT MAUNGANUI won the Eastland Port 2018 Champion of the Bays surf lifesaving contest at Midway Beach over the weekend.

They were comfortably ahead of second-placed Waikanae at the end of two days of competition that drew nearly 300 athletes.

The event was the first time the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty senior surf lifesaving championships had been held in a combined carnival.

Mt Maunganui won the Bay of Plenty Top Club Trophy, while Waikanae made it three in a row when they retained the Ralph Morse Memorial Shield, awarded to the top local club at the Gisborne senior championships.

Most entries came from the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service had the most entries, at 68, and Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club had 62. But athletes from Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Wellington clubs also entered.

The top 10 points totals for clubs were: Mt Maunganui 290, 1; Waikanae 179, 2; Papamoa 107.5, 3; Midway 84.5, 4; Omanu 76, 5; Lyall Bay 64, 6; Whakatane 40, 7; Wainui 22, 8; Paekakariki 10, 9; Pukehina 8, 10.

Midway’s Olivia Corrin had a standout weekend, winning the under-19 women’s ironwoman, run-surf-run, board race and surf race. She was second in the ski to clubmate Alex Bermingham.

Of the feature events, Papamoa won the open men’s taplin relay, with Midway second, Mt Maunganui A third, Waikanae fourth and Mt Maunganui B fifth.

Omanu A won the open women’s taplin, with Mt Maunganui B second, Lyall Bay third, Mt Maunganui A fourth and Waikanae A fifth.

Papamoa’s Daniel Hart won the open men’s ironman, and Mt Maunganui athletes took the next eight places.

Camille Rosa-Perotteau led a Mt Maunganui top-six effort in the open women’s ironwoman, with Waikanae’s Michelle Mitchell seventh.

Midway’s Will Pittar won the under-16 men’s ironman.

In the u16 women’s diamond, Waikanae’s Georgie Pitkethley and Edan Wilson were first and third respectively.

Mt Maunganui’s Declan Dempster won the u19 men’s ironman.

More detailed results tomorrow