Waikanae end Morse Shield drought

BEACH BOYS: Off and running towards the ocean at the start of the under-16 men’s board race at the Gisborne senior surf lifesaving championships on Midway Beach. Among this group are a contingent of Papamoa clubbies, who were among 20 from the Bay of Plenty club who had a four-day training camp in Gisborne. Midway’s dominance of the overall title — the Ralph Morse Memorial Shield — came to an end at the hands of Waikanae. It went down to the wire with Waikanae getting home by just seven points after more than 85 events ranging from beach sprint to taplin relays.

IT HAS taken 17 long years but a posse of paddlers and some fleet feet helped Waikanae back to the top of the Gisborne surf lifesaving ranks on Saturday.

The last time Waikanae lifted the Ralph Morse Memorial Shield — awarded to the top local club at the Gisborne senior championships — was in 1999, with Midway dominating every year since.

But after an intriguing day at Midway, with perfect building surf followed by an onshore change, the Cory Hutchings-coached Waikanae (322 points) held off their near-neighbours for a gripping eight-point win.

Midway started the day trailing by 48 points after Thursday’s double ski and canoe finals but came storming back in Saturday’s two-kilometre beach run, picking up four wins over the six divisions.

But Waikanae’s ski paddlers, led by siblings Kim and Quaid Thompson and Courtney and Alicia Hoskin, won every final they contested. Quaid Thompson won both the under-19 and open divisions, and Cole Williams added the under-16 title.

It was a similar story in the beach events, where Casie Fyall won both under-19 and open women’s flags and sprints.

Facing a 46-point deficit heading into the final session, Midway’s heroics were led by 15-year-old Olivia Corrin, who was the best overall under-16 and open female, and Jessica Blakeman but they ultimately fell just short.

Although trailing in third, Wainui had plenty to celebrate, with Jack Virtue dominating the open men’s division. He won the open surf race, run-swim-run and board race and was only beaten in the ironman by Papamoa’s Mason Bryant.

Papamoa had a team of 20 representing the Bay of Plenty club. Coached by former Gisborne man Matt Cairns, the squad enjoyed a four-day training camp in Gisborne leading up to the championships.

Bryant picked up plenty of points for his club, along with under-16 stars Mitch Cowdrey and Aidan Smith. Ariana Moffatt also showed her ability, winning both the under-19 run-swim-run and ironwoman finals.

The next event on the eastern region calendar is the eastern region championships on January 30 and 31. The Mt Maunganui-based titles are traditionally the second-biggest carnival of the year, behind only the national championships.ResultsMen — Open — 2km beach run: Mason Bryant (Papamoa) 1, Reeftahn Brown-Terekia (Midway) 2, Alex Bristow (Waikanae) 3.

Ski race: Quaid Thompson (Waik) 1, Zach Ferkins (Waik) 2, Scott Cowdrey (Pap) 3.

Surf race: Jack Virtue (Wain) 1, Bertie Bassett-Foss (Waimarama) 2, Josiah Ney (Mid) 3.

Surf teams: Mid 1, Pap 2, Waik 3.

Board race: Jack Virtue (Wain) 1, Scott Cowdrey (Pap) 2, Mason Bryant (Pap) 3.

Beach flags: Connor O’Loughlin (Mid) 1, Josh Adams (Waik) 2, Aidan Smith (Pap) 3.

Ski relay: Waik 1, Mid 2, Waik 3.

Board relay: Pap 1, Wain 2, Mid 3.

Beach relay: Waik 1, Mid 2, Pap 3.

Beach sprint: Connor O’Loughlin (Mid) 1, Aidan Smith (Pap) 2, Josh Adams (Waik) 3.

Tube rescue: Pap 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Board rescue: Pap 1, Wain 2, Mid 3.

Run-swim-run: Jack Virtue (Wain) 1, Reeftahn Brown-Terekia (Mid) 2, Jonty Low (Wain) 3.

Ironman: Mason Bryant (Pap) 1, Jack Virtue (Wain) 2, Callum Torrie (Mid) 3.

Taplin: Pap 1, Wain 2, Waik 3.

Under-19 — 2km beach run: Oliver Shivnan (Waik) 1, Callum Torrie (Mid) 2, Chris Niven (Mid) 3.

Ski race: Quaid Thompson (Waik) 1, Mason Bryant (Pap) 2, Alex Bristow (Waik) 3.

Surf race: Jack Virtue (Wain) 1, Mason Bryant (Pap) 2, Jonty Low (Wain) 3.

Surf teams: Pap 1, Mid 2, Waik 3.

Beach flags: Josh Adams (Waik) 1, Harry Dods (Waik) 2, Tom Dods (Waik) 3.

Ski relay: Waik 1, Pap 2, Wain 3.

Board relay: Pap 1, Wain 2, Waik 3.

Beach relay: Pap 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Beach sprint: Josh Adams (Waik) 1, Harry Dods (Waik) 2, Alex Bristow (Waik) 3.

Tube rescue: Pap 1, Mid 2, Waik 3.

Board rescue: Pap 1, Wain 2, Pap 3.

Run-swim-run: Jack Virtue (Wain) 1, Tom Dods (Waik) 2, Reeftahn Brown-Terekia (Mid) 3.

Ironman: Jonty Low (Wain) 1, Jack Virtue (Wain) 2, Daniel Edwards (Pap) 3.

Taplin: Mid 1, Pap 2, Wain 3.

Under-16 — 2km beach run: Josiah Ney (Mid) 1, Matthew Profitt (Waik) 2, Flynn Grey (Pap) 3.

Ski race: Cole Williams (Waik) 1, Jordan McClarin (Karekare) 2, Jed Bullock (Pap) 3.

Surf race: Mitch Cowdrey (Pap) 1, John Clarke (Pap) 2, George Mano (Pap) 3.

Surf teams: Pap 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Beach flags: Aidan Smith (Pap) 1, Luke Russell (Waimarama) 2, Flynn Grey (Pap) 3.

Board relay: Pap 1, Pap 2, Waik 3.

Beach sprint: Aidan Smith (Pap) 1, Mitch Cowdrey (Pap) 2, Matt Naden (Waik) 3.

Beach relay: Pap 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Tube rescue: Waik 1, Pap 2, Mid 3.

Board rescue: Pap 1, Pap 2, Waik 3.

Run-swim-run: Josiah Ney (Mid) 1, Leon Castle (Pap) 2, John Clarke (Pap) 3.

Ironman: Mitch Cowdrey (Pap) 1, John Clarke (Pap) 2, Thomas Hart (Waik) 3.

Taplin: Pap 1, Waik 2.

Women — Open — 2km beach run: Michelle Rennie (Waik) 1, Sophie van Wijk (Mid) 2, Sophie Rodgers (Mid) 3.

Ski race: Kim Thompson (Waik) 1, Kirby Scammell (Mid) 2, Danielle Scott (Mid) 3.

Surf race: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Georgia Harris (Wain) 2, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 3.

Surf teams: Mid 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Board race: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 2, Bronagh Ryan (Titahi Bay) 3.

Beach flags: Casie Fyall (Waik) 1, Tyler Burgess (Mid) 2, Sophie Twigley (Mid) 3.

Ski relay: Mid 1, Waik 2, Waik 3.

Board relay: Mid 1, Wain 2, Mid 3.

Beach sprint: Casie Fyall (Waik) 1, Sophie Twigley (Mid) 2, Jamie Gedye (Waik) 3.

Beach relay: Waik 1, Titahi Bay 2, Mid 3.

Tube rescue: Mid 1, Waik 2, Waik 3.

Board rescue: Wain 1, Mid 2, Waik 3.

Run-swim-run: Jessica Blakman (Mid) 1, Olivia Corrin (Mid) 2, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 3.

Ironwoman: Jessica Blakeman (Mid) 1, Ashleigh Hurring (Waik) 2, Danielle Scott (Mid) 3.

Taplin: Waik 1, Mid 2, Titahi Bay 3.

Under-19 — 2km beach run: Jessica Blakeman (Mid) 1, Ariana Moffatt (Pap) 2, Lucy Mossman (Waik) 3.

Ski race: Courtney Hoskin (Waik) 1, Carla Reid (Whakatane) 2, Kirby Scammell (Mid) 3.

Surf race: Jessica Blakeman (Mid) 1, Ariana Aupouri-Kawai (Mid) 2, Danielle Scott (Mid) 3.

Surf teams: Mid 1, Pap 2, Waik 3.

Board race: Abby Logan (Wain) 1, Anna Ellingham (Waik) 2, Ariana Moffatt (Pap) 3.

Beach flags: Casie Fyall (Waik) 1, Jessie Egan (Waik) 2, Anna Ellingham (Waik) 3.

Ski relay: Mid 1, Pap 2, Whakatane 3.

Board relay: Wain 1, Pap 2, Mid 3.

Beach relay: Waik 1, Mid 2, Pap 3.

Beach sprint: Casie Fyall (Waik) 1, Sophie Twigley (Mid) 2, Jamie Gedye (Waik) 3.

Tube rescue: Pap 1, Mid 2, Titahi Bay 3.

Board rescue: Pap 1, Mid 2, Waik 3.

Run-swim-run: Ariana Moffatt (Pap) 1, Jessica Blakeman (Mid) 2, Kate Miller (Pap) 3.

Ironwoman: Ariana Moffatt (Pap) 1, Jessica Blakeman (Mid) 2, Kirby Scammell (Mid) 3.

Taplin: Pap 1, Mid A 2, Waik 3.

Under-16 — 2km beach run: Tyler Burgess (Mid) 1, Shaya Fowell (Mid) 2, Caitlyn Candy (Mid) 3.

Ski race: Alicia Hoskin (Waik) 1, Brooklyn Saunders (Titahi Bay) 2, Olivia Corrin (Mid) 3.

Surf race: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 2, Kate Blakeman (Mid) 3.

Surf teams: Mid 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Board race: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Meg Grealish (Wain) 2, Sophie Hayden (Pap) 3.

Beach flags: Tyler Burgess (Mid) 1, Shaya Fowell (Mid) 2, Luisa Stillwell (Titahi Bay) 3.

Board relay: Mid 1, Waik 2, Titahi Bay 3.

Beach sprint: Tyler Burgess (Mid) 1, Caitlyn Candy (Mid) 2, Shaya Fowell (Mid) 3.

Beach relay: Titahi Bay 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.

Tube rescue: Mid 1, Waik 2, Waik 3.

Board rescue: Waik 1, Mid 2, Wain 3.

Run-swim-run: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 2, Kate Blakeman (Mid) 3.

Diamond woman: Olivia Corrin (Mid) 1, Lauren Pickett (Waik) 2, Sophie Hayden (Pap) 3.

Taplin: Mid A 1, Waik 2, Mid 3.