Stars of the future on show

YOUNG GUNS: Big fields of up-and-coming surf lifesavers will face the starters this weekend in the Eastland Port-sponsored Eastern Regional Junior Championships at Midway Beach. Waikanae all-rounder Chloe Kapene, above right, will be right in the action. Picture by Paul Rickard

The future of the district's surf lifesaving strength will be on show this weekend when over 400 youngsters line up for the Eastland Port Eastern Regional Junior Surf Life Saving Championships at Midway Beach.

They will compete tomorrow from 8am and Sunday from 8.30am in age groups from eight to 14 years, in swim, tube rescue, board and beach events.

The weather should be ideal for them, although the surf may be a bit “chunky”, in excess of a metre on Saturday and dropping on Sunday.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae club manager Clara Wilson said her club would have 28 youngsters in action.

“We've got a really young team this year, with quite a number of them doing their first big carnival.

“We're stoked that the younger ones are stepping up to compete.”

Chloe Kapene will likely be one of the club's stars in the under-14 events after strong performances in the beach, board and swim events at the senior championships last weekend.

Kapene won the u15 beach sprint, the u15 board race, was third in the u15 surf race and second in the u15 two-kilometre beach run.

“I know that she will be looking to do well again this weekend,” Wilson said.

“And we have a team of under-13 and under-14 boys who are pumped and ready to race.”

Dawson Building Midway junior surf coach Jared Phelps said Midway would have 55 young athletes racing tomorrow and Sunday.

“We've got a good, confident bunch of kids, right across the age groups.

“They will relish the prospect of racing in some fairly sizeable surf over the weekend.”

Phelps said Midway's junior surf programme was going well.

“We're getting good numbers of kids and we've got some new coaches who have been working hard on the kids' skills and drills.

“That work will be put to the test this weekend with the swell that's forecast.”

Riversun Wainui head coach Dion Williams said Wainui would have 30 young athletes in the champs.

“It's so exciting to have numbers like that,” he said.

“There's a lot of really young 'uns in there but, if we can nurture them through, it all looks good for us into the future.

“I think Charlie Keepa will compete strongly in the board, swim and diamond events in the under-13s, Max Phillips should go well in the under-14 boys' swim events, and so should Quinn Lockwood in the u13 boys' board events.

“It's so exciting to have a carnival like this in Gisborne.

“It will set us all up well for the Ocean Athletes championships in a month's time at the Mount.”

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Tairawhiti club development officer Sonia Keepa said the rest of the 400-strong carnival line-up would include athletes from as far afield as Christchurch and Auckland.

“They are coming from all over the country really, which is great to see.

“It's one of the biggest junior surf events outside of the Oceans championships at Mt Maunganui at the end of February.”

Keepa said it was “awesome” to have Eastland Port on board again as the major sponsor for the event.

The sponsorship was used to keep entry fees as low as possible, she said.

“We will also be providing each competitor with a high-viz swim vest to use and take home.

“It should be a great weekend.”