Strong Gisborne entry for regionals

Jamie Gedye

WAIKANAE, Midway and Wainui surf lifesavers will be among over 800 athletes from 31 clubs taking part in the Eastern regional championships at Mt Maunganui this weekend.

Among those competing are Olympians, Black Fins and New Zealand representative athletes.

Wainui’s Laura Quilter is one of four of the 2016 world lifesaving champion Black Fins lining up, while Waikanae’s Jamie Gedye is one of eight Junior Black Fins entered.

Olympic gold-medal-winning kayak paddler and Mt Maunganui surf lifesaving club member Lisa Carrington will also take part.

The Eastern regional championships have long been among the biggest surf lifesaving carnivals, second only to the national championships, which take place early in March.

This year, twilight racing on the Saturday night is being introduced for beach events.

“It’s an exciting new initiative,” Surf Life Saving New Zealand eastern region sport manager Mark Inglis said.

“The intention is to speed up the large programme throughout the weekend and ultimately result in less conflict of events.”

Three clubs will travel from the South Island for the event — Dunedin’s St Clair have 16 entries, while Christchurch clubs South Brighton and North Beach have 10 and six respectively.

Travelling farthest from the north are Red Beach and Orewa, who have the largest number of entries — 88 and 79 respectively.

Hosts Mt Maunganui have the third-largest number, 75, followed by Auckland’s Piha (72) and Mairangi Bay (54).

Waikanae have 33 entries, Midway 18 and Wainui 17.

Events include the beach sprint, beach flags, run-swim-run, surf race, board race, ski race, diamond race, ironman, two-kilometre beach run, beach, board and ski relays, board rescue and taplin, with the action beginning at 8am tomorrow.

Surf boats and canoes will also form part of the racing, with over 70 crews taking part in short- and long-course races.

Entries by club: Red Beach 88, Orewa 79, Mt Maunganui 75, Piha 72, Mairangi Bay 54, Omanu Beach 43, Papamoa 38, Waikanae 33, Muriwai 31, East End 23, Waihi Beach 23, Ocean Beach Kiwi 22, Westshore 22, Fitzroy 21, Lyall Bay 20, Midway 18, Paekakariki 18, Wainui 17, St Clair 16, Waimarama 16, Whangamata 16, Whakatane 13, South Brighton 10, Titahi Bay 10, Palmerston North 8, Karekare 7, New Plymouth Old Boys 7, North Beach 6, Bethells Beach 5, Omaha Beach 3, Otaki 1.