Tough conditions suit Gisborne clubs

Waikanae coach Cory Hutchings.

TOUGH conditions were a feature of the Oceans 18 junior surf lifesaving carnival at Orewa Beach for Waikanae coach Cory Hutchings.

“But our small team didn’t disappoint,” he said.

“We came away as seventh club overall (on 22 points) in the points tally.”

(Midway were 10th, on 16 points, and Wainui were 23rd, on three.)

Hutchings said many of the top clubs had well in excess of 50 athletes, so he was “very pleased” with Waikanae’s result from a team of just 13.

Lachie Falloon claims two national titlesLachie Falloon showed incredible strength and skill to claim two national titles — the board and diamond races — in a “very strong field” of under-14 boys, Hutchings said.

Star was born with Chloe Kapene“A star was born when Chloe Kapene hit the beach for her first Oceans competition,” he said.

“She performed superbly, using all her training and knowledge to come home with three national titles — in the run-swim-run, and the surf and board races.

“The whole team put in solid performances in the ocean, with most of the crew making finals across the three days of racing.

Stunning gold for Jack Sadler“The ‘land crabs’ contributed heavily to the overall points, with a stunning gold to Jack Sadler in the under-13 beach sprint.

“Jack, another first-timer at the junior nationals event, ran a blistering race. He is a very strong track runner and his athletics training transferred well to the sand.

Oliver Davies takes silver“Oliver Davies then followed up with a very close, fast race, taking silver in the under-14 boys’ sprint. Oliver also paddled well and will be one to look out for in the future.”

And so does Oska SmithIn the under-13 flags event, Oska Smith won silver in a close-fought battle.

'Whole team put in solid performances' says HutchingsHutchings said it was “maddening” that the event was cut short due to bad weather, especially as some Waikanae competitors were chasing medals in the final events.

“I was looking forward to seeing if Chloe could make it four from four in the diamond, and our rescue teams were looking very strong,” he said.

“The team will have a well-earned rest now as the attention turns to the senior nationals in a couple of weeks.”

Oceans 18 'very successful'Midway coach Jared Phelps said Oceans 18 — the Under-14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships — had been “very successful” for the Dawson Builders Midway crew.

“We came away with a decent medal haul and a bunch of happy kids,” he said.

“Sophie Petro stood out in her age group, winning the under-12 diamond race just ahead of her clubmate Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, and placed second in the surf race and the board race.

“Will Matthews, Jack Lepper, and Austin Fergus teamed up to win the under-12 board relay and later in the day teamed up with Kassie Owen, Jodiesha and Sophie to place third in the under-12 Cameron Relay. I was extremely proud of the way our entire team raced.

Kids were 'racing hard and having a ball'“The thing that matters most is that the kids are on the beach racing hard and having a ball doing it.

“Two of our first-timers, Florence Faulks and Nicola Bronlund, raced hard in the surf race to make their first final.

“What was cooler was that they stuck together and pushed each other around the course in what were challenging conditions. You couldn’t wipe the smiles from their faces.

'Tough conditions good for all three Gizzy clubs'“The tough conditions really suited all three of the Gisborne clubs, which showed in the results.”

Wainui coach Sonia Keepa 'super proud'Wainui coach Sonia Keepa said the 11-strong Wainui team deserved congratulations for competing with unconditional commitment and big hearts against the best of the country’s junior surf sport athletes.

“We are super proud of our team,” she said.

“Every one of them gave it their best. Fear, apprehension and nerves were overcome for some fantastic personal achievements.”

Jack Keepa makes many water finalsIn the under-14 boys’ division, Jack Keepa made multiple water finals and made semifinals in the beach events.

Keepa won silver in the run-swim-run and bronze in the surf race, and placed fourth in the diamond and fifth in the board race.

Jonty Evans makes multiple finals tooAlso in the under-14 boys’ division, Jonty Evans made finals in the run-swim-run, surf race, board race and diamond, placing among the top 10 in each final.

Girls do well tooSofia Zame made the under-14 girls’ diamond final.

In the under-13 girls’ division, Imogen Amor-Bendall had top-10 placings in the diamond, board and run-swim-run, and was 11th surf race final.

Ella Arthur, in the under-12 girls’ division, was fourth in the beach flags and board finals

Tyron Evans made the under-12 boys’ diamond, surf race and run-swim-run finals.

Sofia Zame, Imogen Amor-Bendall and Olivia Whitfield reached the under-14 girls’ board relay final.

Also worthy of special mention for earning semifinal spots were Lucy Allan and Eva Klavs and the under-14 girls’ relay B team of Lucy Allan, Breanna Ferris and Maggie Preston.

“We are proud of all our team,” Sonia Keepa said.

“Top efforts were put in for every race, which resulted in these multiple semifinal spots. Often progression to the finals was missed by one place.”

Final day of competition cancelledThe final day of competition was cancelled because the water arena for rescue events could not be set up.

Sonia Keepa said the Wainui althletes were disappointed to miss out on the events scheduled for the final day.

For the majority of the Wainui team, this was their last Oceans, she said.

They had been training and looking forward to these team rescue events all season.