North Island IRB champs under way this weekend

MEDAL CHANCES: The four Waikanae IRB crews go into the North Island inflatable rescue boat championships at Waihi this weekend with plenty of 'medal' confidence. They trained hard and are ready to race. Their top crew of Oliver Shivnan, Silke McNaught and Connor Mitchell were pictured when the champs were held in Gisborne last year. File picture

Gisborne will be well represented at the BP Surf Rescue North Island IRB Championships at Waihi Beach this weekend with crews from Waikanae set to get amongst the medals.

About 200 surf lifeguards will be involved in up to 60 inflatable rescue boat crews from 20 clubs throughout the North Island.

Both male and female crews will compete across several events.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand national sport manager Lewis McClintock recognises the hard work and effort the crews have put in to get ready for the event.

“I'm very aware it's been a trying year for many surf lifesaving competitors, with so many events cancelled because of the Covid-19 situation,” he said.

“But it's fantastic we can deliver the BP surf rescue North Island championships and hopefully finish a difficult season on a high note with the national IRB championships in a few weeks,” McClintock said.

“Everyone is looking forward to seeing the crews get out there and give it their all this weekend.”

In 2021, Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae finished second overall in the championships.

The Sunset Beach SLS club from Port Waikato won the overall title last year.

“We expect them to be really strong again this year,” Waikanae IRB leader Connor Mitchell said.

“They've got a big team and will be tough. But we have four very strong teams and hope to do well.”

Surf Life Saving New Zealand events manager Mark Inglis said last year's winners Sunset Beach would look to retain the overall title as they would bring the largest team, consisting of 25 competitors making up nine racing crews.

“But with the East End club depleted due to Covid and no Mairangi Bay attending, the door is wide open for other clubs to try to take the title away from them.”

Waikanae will have Mitchell and Oliver Shivnan racing in the open men's competition and Britta Carroll and Ana Naden in the open women's division. Waikanae will also have two under-23 teams — Harry Allan and Travis Mitchell, and Cole Williams and Sam Blackburne.

“We think our strongest events will be the tube and mass rescue events,” Connor Mitchell said.

“We've had a few teams move up a division this season so this will be a good chance for them to test their skills at a higher level.

“We have full confidence we can walk away with a few medals this weekend.”

About a metre of clean surf has been forecast for both days.

“There'll be a bit of excitement,” Mitchell said.

Inflatable rescue boats get used in countless rescues on New Zealand beaches every year.

The championship races replicate the skills needed in real-life rescue scenarios and the athletes taking part in this event are all active surf lifeguards.