Olivia Corrin
SURF LIFESAVING
WAIKANAE have their sights set on another strong performance at the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships that start tomorrow morning at Mount Maunganui.
In Gisborne last year, Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae finished third in the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy points standings with 94 points, 10 behind second-placed Mairangi Bay, with winners Mount Maunganui well ahead on 166.
Dawson Building Midway finished sixth on 43.5 points, and Riversun Wainui were 15th on 19.
This year’s championships have attracted the biggest line-up for five years — 1195 competitors, with over 70 of them from the three Gisborne clubs.
Waikanae will have 34 competing, Midway 20 and Wainui 18.
“We are not at the level of the Mount; that’s not one of our aims,” Waikanae head coach Cory Hutchings said.
“Our goal is to try to finish in the top three again this year and we want to try to be a bit more competitive against the likes of Mairangi Bay.
“We hope to perhaps push for second place this year.”
The beach and craft events will be strong components of Waikanae’s efforts.
Jamie Gedye, Briana Irving, Casie Fyall and Seven Mapu would push for honours on the beach,” Hutchings said.
Also expected to be among the medal contenders were Quaid Thompson and Sam Ferkins on the ski and in other craft events, Georgie Pitkethley on the board, and Christy Tate on the ski and board.
“Our under-16s shape up as our strongest division,” Hutchings said.
“Lachie Falloon and Nic Proffit have done well at previous carnivals this season.
“It’s been a long season and it’s been a challenge in the past few weeks with winter sports coming on line, but I think we’re good to go.”
Midway head coach Matt Sutton said he expected his club to finish in a similar position overall this year.
“It’s always hard to estimate where you’re likely to finish,” he said.
“We will have Cory Taylor and Olivia Corrin racing for us, and you always expect a good showing from them.”
Taylor will defend his NZ open ironman titleTaylor will defend his New Zealand open ironman title.
“Olivia has sights set on wins in the under-19 and open women’s ironwoman,” Sutton said.
“We have some teams set to step up, particularly our under-19 ski relay team of Alex Bermingham, Annabel Higgins and Olivia (Corrin). They should do well.”
Sutton said he was particularly excited about Midway’s open men’s board relay team.
“That’s Cory (Taylor), Ruben Bronlund, who’s only 15 years old, and Matt Scott. That’s a really good team.”
Wainui head coach Dion Williams said he was “super excited” about the potential for his club this weekend.
“With the waves that could be on offer, I can see our light shining,” he said.
“Ava Smith in the board and swim events, and her sister Jasmine — back from Aussie — on the board could get among the medals. And Abby Falwasser-Logan is fresh from a silver in the board at the Eastern Regional Championships.
“Our team-event entries are loaded with potential, particularly the board relay and board rescue,” Williams said.
“Jack Keepa and Jonty Evans are real chances in the under-16s in ironman, craft and swim events, and we also have a junior girls’ canoe team with potential.”
• The major finals at the championships will be live-streamed on Sunday afternoon by Gisborne company Royster Productions.
The livestream will run from 12.30pm until 3.30pm that day.