Waikanae club’s four teams claim medals at the North Island IRB championships

Waikanae IRB crews performed with distinction at the North Island championships at Waipu Cove at the weekend. Hamish Swann (driver) and Taran Wilson (crew) are pictured getting some serious air on their way to one of their gold medals in the under-19 men’s division.

Gisborne surf lifeguards enjoyed outstanding success in competitions out of the district at the weekend.

The Waikanae IRBs had a big medal haul at Waipu Cove and Midway’s Ella Sutton won big at Piha.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae had four teams in action at the North Island inflatable rescue boat championships at Waipu Cove in Northland on Saturday and Sunday.

The club’s under-19 men’s crew of driver Hamish Swann, crewman Taran Wilson and patient Matti Richards won gold in the single and mass rescue events, and a silver.

The u23 men’s crew of Harry Allan (driver), Travis Mitchell (crew) and Michaela Clearwater (patient) won gold medals in the single and mass rescue events.

Open men’s crew of Connor Mitchell (driver) and Oliver Shivnan, with patient Matti Richards, won two silver and two bronze medals.

“There was only a centimetre in it between silver and gold for us,” Connor Mitchell said.

“It’s fair to say our overall team did pretty bloody well.”

Connor and Travis Mitchell, Shivnan and Allan, plus patients, combined to win silver in the open teams event.

Connor Mitchell said the club’s u19 women also raced well.

“Elle Williams and Bella Fitzharris-Stevens scored a couple of fourths in their finals.

“They are improving in leaps and bounds.

“Overall it was our best open performance at the North Islands, and the other crews did really well, too.”

The Waikanae IRB crews now prepare for the New Zealand titles at Waikouaiti Beach in Dunedin on March 23 and 24.

* Dawson Building Midway’s Ella Sutton took out the women’s “ironman” final in the Piha Invitational at the weekend.

Fifteen-year-old Sutton was racing in open company. Her father Matt said she would have been the youngest competitor in the event.

“She was third in the surf race and in the board — also open events. They’re really good results and we’re very proud of her.”