Primed, ready for Bays battle

Good to go: Waikanae up-and-comer Lachie Falloon has recovered well from injuries he sustained in a surf race event at the Mount last weekend and should be OK to do some events at the Champion of the Bays carnival in Ohope this weekend. Picture by Liam Clayton

THE region’s first major surf lifesaving carnival for the year is in Ohope this weekend and the three Gisborne clubs will be well represented.

About 45 athletes from Gisborne will be involved in the Champion of the Bays carnival.

It was to double as the Gisborne senior championships but that has changed and a date for that has yet to be finalised.

Waikanae will have several of their stars in action this weekend, including top beach exponents Casie Fyall and Briana Irving.

The pair competed at the Life Saving World Championships in Adelaide, where Fyall helped Australian club Kurrawa to gold in the open women’s beach relay after Irving won gold in the beach sprint and beach relay as a member of the New Zealand Junior Black Fins squad in the youth teams’ competition.

“All our top competitors, barring the kayak guys, will be racing this weekend,” said head coach Cory Hutchings.

“The kayakers are preparing for their national championships.

“We are still taking through a strong team — upwards of 20 competitors.”

Hutchings said they hoped up-and-comer Lachie Falloon would compete.

Falloon had a mishap in an event at Mount Maunganui last weekend.

“He had just won the ironman and was starting the surf race when he dived in and hit a sand bar.”

Falloon managed to complete the race but was taken to hospital for a check-up.

His family said he had recovered well and should be able to do selected events this weekend.

Midway head coach Matt Sutton says they will have about a dozen young competitors at Ohope, including New Zealand Black Fins representative Olivia Corrin.

“She has just got back into training after a break after the worlds and will do everything this weekend,” said Sutton.

“It’s all about fitness for Olivia at this stage of the year.”

Sutton expects Will Pittar to perform strongly in the under-19 ski events.

“Ruben Bronlund should feature in the board events and 14-year-old Sasha Fergus will line up in her first adult carnival.”

Fergus will compete in the board and swim events.

“She has been training hard and should do well.”

Wainui head coach Dion Williams said his club had only four competitors going through but they should all do well.

“It’s only a tiny team for us because of the surfing nationals and other engagements,” said Williams.

“I expect Jack Keepa to do well in the under-16 events, along with Bonnie Grealish in the under-19 board and swim events.

“Sarah Lockwood has just joined us and she will compete in the open ski and board events.

“Louis Birkhead will get amongst it in the board and ski.”