Tough start to season

TESTING START: Fitness was tested for the 40-plus young surf lifeguards who took part in the first lifesaving carnival of the season in Gisborne at the weekend. Virtually flat surf meant hard work all the way through the various water events. Midway's Tyron Evans and Jacob Corrin were pictured in action in the 'iron' eliminator, along with their clubmate Jessikah Fearnley, and Waikanae's Nathan Proctor. Pictures by Paul Rickard

THE athletes in the opening competition of the Gisborne surf lifesaving sport season put on a great show with some hard slog in almost flat surf at the weekend.

Gisborne lifeguards from Dawson Building Midway and Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae were joined by athletes from Ocean Beach Kiwi (OBK) from Hawke's Bay, and Papamoa from the Bay of Plenty.

In all, 41 surf sport athletes contested the day-and-a-half event.

It all started with the Gizzy Grinder endurance race on Friday night.

“The Grinder began with a beach run from Midway to Waikanae, then competitors negotiated The Cut to make their way along the seawall to swim back to Waikanae beach in an ‘M' shaped course,” said eastern region sport manager Sonia Keepa.

“That was followed by a board paddle course to Midway and the final leg was a ski paddle from Midway out into the bay, finishing back back at Waikanae.”

Waikanae's Nathan Proctor and Midway's Sophie Petro placed first overall in the men's and women's divisions in the Gizzy Grinder.

Saturday featured the Irons Eliminator, where athletes competed over three rounds of back-to- back racing.

“They gained points from each round to find the overall placings,” Keepa said.

Petro also took the honours in that event, in the under 15-17 female division, and Proctor was the u19-open winner.

Midway's Tyron Evans won the u15-17 division, and Sarah-Kate Birkett (OBK) won the u19-open female division.

The event concluded with the team challenge relay, where teams of six took part in an alternative style of relay racing to promote teamwork, inclusion and fun.

Midway coach Jack Gavin was impressed with his team, who put in some dominant performances.

“This is the perfect summer hit-out,” he said.

It hit all the distances that the athletes were working on, whether for the Mount Monster, the Irons or fast teams racing, he said.

It was a great balance of all three distances, and tested fitness, endurance and speed.

“Huge thanks to all involved in organising this event and getting it up and running,” Gavin said.

“We are slowly readjusting to post-Covid life. It's going to take some time to get back into the rhythm of events and make the most of these opportunities as the restrictions of the previous seasons are lifted.”

Results —

Gizzy Grinder Enduro, individual —

Male: Nathan Proctor (Waikanae) 1, Tyron Evans (Midway) 2, Yahni Brown (Mid) 3.

Female: Sophie Petro (Mid) 1, Sarah-Kate Birkett (Ocean Beach Kiwi) 2, Amelie Pearson (Papamoa) 3.

Gizzy Grinder Enduro, team —

Male: Midway Old Dogs (Andrew Kinsella/Angus Blair/Sam Gaddum) 1, Midway Bros (Austin Fergus/Maxwell Kennedy/William Matthews) 2, Waikanae Kinas (Taran Wilson/Max Phillips) 3.

Female: Midway Camels (Alice Sparks/Jessikah Fearnley) 1, Midway E Dogs (Ella Sutton/Emily Petro) 2, Waikanae Sheilas (Riley Ingoe/ Chloe Kapene/Christy Tate) 3.

Iron Eliminator (three rounds), u15-17 female: Sophie Petro (Mid) 1, Ella Sutton (Mid) 2, Amelie Pearson (Pap) 3.

Male: Tyron Evans (Mid) 1, Yahni Brown (Mid) 2, Jack Lepper (Mid) 3.

U19-open female: Sarah-Kate Birkett (OBK) 1, Jessikah Fearnley (Mid) 2, Alex Thompson (Pap) 3.

U19-open male: Nathan Proctor (Waik) 1, Angus Blair (Mid) 2, Jacob Corrin (Mid) 3.

Beach flags, open male: Gabriel Wyatt (OBK) 1.

U15-17 male: Fergus McHardy (Pap) 1.

Teams challenge —

Run-swim relay: Midway A (Maxwell Kennedy/Tyron Evans/Jacob Corrin/Ella Sutton/Sophie Petro/Emily Petro) 1, Midway B (Yahni Brown/Angus Blair/Eva Kinsella/Alice Sparks/Finn Cameron/Jessikah Fearnley) 2, Papamoa A (Zachary Cairns/Ryan Bevin/Jessica Pilbrow/Trelise Chote/Amelie Pearson/Fergus McHardy) 3.

Board-run relay: Midway A (Angus Blair/Yahni Brown/Ella Sutton/Eva Kinsella/Sophie Petro/Maxwell Kennedy) 1, Waikanae A (Max Phillips/Nathan Proctor/Chloe Kapene/Riley Ingoe/Sierra Blumfield/Taran Wilson) 2, Midway B (Jack Lepper/Jacob Corrin/Emily Petro/Alice Sparks/Finn Cameron/Jessikah Fearnley) 3.

Ski-run relay: Midway B (Tyron Evans/Jacob Corrin/Yahni Brown/Alice Sparks/Ella Sutton/Jessikah Fearnley) 1, Midway A (Maxwell Kennedy/Jack Lepper/Sophie Petro/Emily Petro/Eva Kinsella/Finn Cameron) 2, Waikanae A (Nathan Proctor/Taran Wilson/Riley Ingoe/Christy Tate/Chloe Kapene/Max Phillips) 3.

Rescue Relay: Midway A (Yahni Brown/Tyron Evans/Maxwell Kennedy/Emily Petro/Sophie Petro/Alice Sparks) 1, Waikanae A (Nathan Proctor/Max Phillips/Taran Wilson/Chloe Kapene/Riley Ingoe/Christy Tate) 2, Papamoa A (Zachary Cairns/Fergus McHardy/Amelie Pearson/Jessica Pilbrow/Alex Thompson/Ryan Bevin) 3.