Surf Life Saving: OBK beach sprinters complete open-under-19 double

Wesley Akeripa (left), Kyle Cornelissen, coach Greg Larsen, Reece Akuhata and Ben Lewis celebrate their open men's under-19 beach sprint double in Mount Maunganui. Photo/Supplied

If Hawke's Bay beach sprinter Wesley Akeripa appeared a little stunned as he took in the final day of the national surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui today he had every right to be.

"Everyone was pretty surprised and I was too. I didn't expect to be up to that level that quick ... I thought it would take a lot longer, another summer or two at least," Ocean Beach Kiwi's Akeripa said as he reflected on his three gold medals.

The 16-year-old Napier Boys' High School Year 12 student, who missed last year's nationals with a broken leg, won the under-19 beach sprint title. He combined with clubmates Reece Akuhata, Kyle Cornelissen and Ben Lewis to win the open men's and under-19 beach relay titles.

"It was the first time an OBK under-19 team had won the open men's title. I've still got another two years at under-19 level," Akeripa explained.

"I come up here again for the North Island secondary schools athletics champs on April 5 when I will race in the 100 and 200 metres. Hopefully Tauranga proves to be a happy hunting ground for me again," he added.

Elated long-serving OBK beach sprint coach Greg Larsen said the team had been together for three years.

"They have been looking so good in training with their explosive sprinting and slick baton changes I suggested it was time to take on the best open teams in the country which they did and smashed both age groups with amazing speed and baton changes."

Akuhata also won three gold medals repeating his feat from last year in Gisborne. In addition to his two relay golds Akuhata won gold in the under-19 beach flags where Lewis won silver and Akeripa finished sixth.

Lewis was aiming for a third consecutive under-19 beach sprint title but like hot favourite Aidan Smith of Papamoa was disqualified for finishing off his feet across the line after desperate lunges.

Ocean Beach Kiwi's other gold on the sand in the age group nationals was won by the under-16 boys beach relay team. Two members of last year's winning team, Zethan Bennett and Grayson Hesketh, were joined by Corban Watson and Llewellyn Ward-Leikis.

"These lads were run down into second place at Eastern Regionals. We worked on getting their baton changes as slick as the under-19 team and it made a huge difference as they had a convincing win," Larsen said.

Ocean Beach Kiwi's under-19 girls beach relay team of Jess Tucker, Laura Johnson, Olivia Kirkpatrick and Tayla Swanwick won bronze. Kirkpatrick won silver in the under-16 girls beach sprint and Hesketh travelled home with bronze from the under-16 boys beach sprint.

Ocean Beach Kiwi's only gold on the water at the age group nationals was won by the under-19 boys long course canoe race crew of Jamie Nichols, Lars Benson, Jonty Ebbett Watt and Luke Kay. This crew which is coached by Andy Callinicos and Lenny Kay was unbeaten all season.

The club's open men's long course canoe race crew of Scott Bicknell, William Wilkins, Ben Tinnelly and Shane Bennett won silver.

Competing in the masters section of the nationals on Thursday, Larsen, won his 27th beach sprint title with his victory in the 65-69 years age group, his 20th beach flags title and also collected a bronze in the ski race. Akeripa's mother Emma Akeripa won gold in her 35-39 years beach sprint, silver in the beach flags and bronze in the board race, surf race and run-swim-run.

Bicknell won golds in the beach sprint and beach flags in his 30-34 years age group where he also won bronze in the ski race. Lisa Birkett won bronze in her 45-49 years age group surf race.

Margi York captured silver in the beach sprint in her 50-54 years age group. She also won silver with Emma Akeripa, Helen Jackson and Rebecca Wright in the women's 160 years beach relay and with Jackson in the women's 40-44 years double ski.

After nine years of collecting silver and bronze medals Greg Ross, Lenny Kay, Martin Barrett and William Benson combined to win gold in the men's 180 years surf canoe race.