A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
THREE-TIME world ironman Cory Hutchings says Waikanae’s second placing at surf lifesaving’s Eastern Regional Championships was the result of teamwork right across the board.
“It was also a reflection of the work put in over the past four to five years by our athletes,” said Hutchings, who did not want to single out individuals.
“When you compare the number of competitors we have with the numbers at other clubs, second place is awesome.
“All three Gisborne clubs — Waikanae, Midway and Wainui — will always be punching above our weight at these champs and the nationals.
“Not only are our kids winning medals, they’re making finals, and it’s all down to the hard work they put into training, learning the fundamental skills from an early age and then working on fitness.”
Hutchings, now in his fifth season with Waikanae, said that when he started coaching at Waikanae, the club was “a bit weak” in the fundamental skills.
“There were naturally talented kids — around the ages of 10, 11 and 12 — and there were some who weren’t naturally talented but who wanted to learn the fundamental skills. It’s like all sports: you need to learn the basics.
“Now it’s the kids who wanted to learn who are getting the rewards, and a lot of the naturally talented athletes are not with us. It’s probably the same with Midway and Wainui. Skill alone won’t make you a winner; the desire to train hard and learn from others has to be there.
“Matt Sutton (Midway), Dion Williams (Wainui) and I all came through in the same era, although Matt’s a bit younger than us. We all learned a lot from our coaches and Dad (Benny Hutchings). I think that shows in the way we train our athletes.”
Hutchings said he wasn’t that flash in his early days.
“But then I saw what the likes of Alan Thompson and Grant Bramwell achieved (gold medals at kayaking in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) through hard work and discipline, and they were my role models.”
WAIKANAE results —
Open women — Beach sprint: Casie Fyall 1st.
Beach relay: Waikanae (Casie Fyall, Briana Irving, Brooke Willock, Madeleine Wilson) 1st.
Beach flags: Casie Fyall 1st.
Long-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Ana Naden, Ella Andrews, Courtney Hoskins, Michelle Mitchell) 2nd.
Short-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Ana Naden, Ella Andrews, Courtney Hoskins, Michelle Mitchell) 3rd.
Under-19 women — Beach flags: Briana Irving 1st.
Short-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Anna Ellingham, Aoife Fyall, Kendra Tate, Holly Hope, Sarah Lockwood) 1st.
Long-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Anna Ellingham, Aoife Fyall, Kendra Tate, Holly Hope, Sarah Lockwood) 2nd.
Board: Lauren Pickett 3rd.
Board relay: Waikanae (Lauren Pickett, Georgie Pitkethley, Ella van Kregten) 2nd.
Ironwoman: Lauren Pickett 2nd.
Under-16 women — Beach sprint: Briana Irving 1st; Madeleine Wilson 3rd.
Beach relay: Waikanae (Briana Irving, Christy Tate, Madeleine Wilson, Brooke Willock) 1st.
Board relay: Waikanae (Edan Wilson, Georgie Pitkethley, Christy Tate) 2nd.
Board rescue: Waikanae (Brooke Willock, Georgie Pitkethley) 1st; Waikanae (Edan Wilson, Christy Tate) 2nd.
Ski: Christy Tate 1st.
Diamond woman: Georgie Pitkethley 3rd.
Open men — Long-course surf canoe: Waikanae (James Blackburne, Dene Moleta, Zach Ferkins, Ben Bristow) 1st.
Short-course surf canoe: Waikanae (James Blackburne, Dene Moleta, Zach Ferkins, Ben Bristow) 2nd.
Double ski: Quaid Thompson and Zach Ferkins 1st.
Under-19 men — Short-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Cole Williams, Sam Ferkins, Sam Blackburne, Travis Mitchell) 1st.
Long-course surf canoe: Waikanae (Cole Williams, Sam Ferkins, Sam Blackburne, Travis Mitchell) 1st.
Double ski: Jordan McLarin and Sam Blackburne 3rd.
Wainui results
Open women — Board race: Stella Smith 3rd.
Board relay: Wainui (Stella Smith, Ava Smith, Bonnie Grealish) 1st.
Under-16 women — Board relay: Wainui (Stella Smith, Ava Smith, Bonnie Grealish) 1st.
Midway results
Under-19 women — Surf race: Olivia Corrin 1st.
Ski: Alex Bermingham 1st; Annabel Higgins 3rd.
Taplin relay: Midway (Alex Bermingham, Danielle Scott, Kate Blakeman) 3rd.
Under-16 men — Board race: Ruben Bronlund 3rd.
Board rescue: Midway (Carew Fearnley, Ruben Bronlund) 3rd.
Two-kilometre race: Ruben Bronlund 3rd.