Three golds for Gisborne

IN MEDAL COUNTRY: Wainui competitor Charlie Keeper (pictured left, bringing her board into the beach in another event) won gold in the under-11 girls' run-swim-run. Keepa Digital pictures

Gold medals in the beach flags to speedsters Rubi Hart and Jerome Tamatea from Waikanae and Amelia Arthur from Wainui were highlights for Gisborne on Day 1 of the Oceans 19 New Zealand junior surf lifesaving championships at Mount Maunganui yesterday.

Hart competed in the under-12 girls’ division, Tamatea, in the u11 boys’ and Arthur, in the u11 girls’.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae (fourth) and Riversun Wainui (sixth) finished in the top 10 on the overall points scoreboard, with Dawson Building Midway back in 17th place.

Swimmers Charlie Keepa for Wainui and Chloe Kapene for Waikanae got on to the podium, with silver medals in the girls’ run-swim-run u11 and u12 divisions respectively.

Midway’s sole medal on Day 1 was won by Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, a bronze in the u13 girls’ beach flags.

Her clubmate Sophie Petro went close to a medal with fourth in the u12 girls’ run-swim-run.

Wainui’s Lucy Allan was fifth in the u14 girls’ beach flags.

Wainui head coach Dion Williams said he was proud of Amelia Arthur’s effort in the beach flags.

“She fronted up and did everything right,” Williams said.

“Her technique training paid off for her and she got a good win.

“It was also awesome to see Charlie get the silver medal in the run-swim-run. She smashed it off the start in the run, and was just pipped for the gold medal.”

Wainui have Lucy Allan, Ella Arthur and Charlie Keepa through to Sunday’s board finals.

Midway junior surf coach Jared Phelps said most of their board paddlers got through to the finals on Sunday.

“The skill level from all three Gisborne clubs was high in the board events; they really stood out,” he said.

“Jodiesha’s bronze was our first beach medal at the junior champs for some time, and she was unlucky not to go a bit further towards the silver and gold.

“We are happy with the way the day went for us. There were some solid performances all round.”

Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings said his club had a good day.

“A couple of gold medals, it doesn’t get much better than that. We’re very happy with the start.

“The kids are great, and for such a small crew they did really well.”

He said Chloe Kapene went close to the gold medal in the run-swim-run.

“The run up the beach decided it. Chloe was only five metres behind the winner.”

Four of the club’s board paddlers have made Sunday’s board finals.

“The first day was held in perfect conditions,” Oceans 19 carnival manager Matt Warren said.

“We have 857 athletes from 45 clubs across New Zealand competing for honours through till Sunday.”

The championships continue today with beach sprint and board rescue events.

Results with a Gisborne link —

Beach flags

Under-13 girls: Lila Feasey, Maranui 1; Rosie Falcous, St Clair 2; Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Midway 3.

U12 girls: Rubi Hart, Waikanae 1; Monique Bartlett, Omanu 2; Billie Harwood, Red Beach 3.

U11 boys: Jerome Tamatea, Waikanae 1; Jackson Hill, Maranui 2; Ciaran Manning, Mt Maunganui 3.

U11 girls: Amelia Arthur, Wainui 1; Paige Rickard, Mt Maunganui 2; Grace Richardson, Omanu 3.

Run-swim-run

U12 girls: Maddison Greetham, Omanu 1; Chloe Kapene, Waikanae 2; Monique Bartlett, Omanu 3.

U11 girls: McKenzie Rowlands, East End 1; Charlie Keepa, Wainui 2; Grace Richardson, Omanu 3.

See also this story.