Surf lifesaving: Westshore extend record run

TRAINING TIME: Harriet Lloyd-Jones hits the surf for a training session in the countdown to next month's nationals in Christchurch. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Harriet Lloyd-Jones was quick to reply when asked about the keys to her Westshore club's 14th consecutive Hawke's Bay surf lifesaving championship title win at the weekend.

"Amazing team spirit and amazing coaching," Lloyd-Jones said as she reflected on Westshore's 101 point win over host club Ocean Beach Kiwi.

While she wasn't wrong the 16-year-old Napier Girls High School year 12 student who is in her fourth year of surf lifesaving could easily have said the club boasts numerous talented individuals, like herself, who are prepared to bust themselves in a bucket load of events.

The second year Hawke's Bay champs competitor epitomised Westshore's team spirit when she won the under-19 ironwoman race and immediately sprinted to the start of the under-16 diamond lady event which she finished second in. Lloyd-Jones also finished second in the open run swim run, third in the under-19 run swim run and second in the under-16 board race.

She also competed in three team events and along with clubmates Charlotte Minor and Kaitlin Cotter won the under-16 girls board relay. The Cian Jefferson-coached Lloyd Jones will tackle a similar number of events at next month's national championships in Christchurch.

"I'll be aiming to reach finals down there."

A 400 and 200m freestyler, Lloyd-Jones, has been a competitive swimmer for eight years. Last year she joined the Clive-based Trojans club where she is coached by Olympian Daniel Bell after previously representing the Napier Aquahawks club.

"I do prefer surf lifesaving over swimming but I'm happy to do both. I also prefer board events although I am a better swimmer."

Because of her swimming training commitments she will only be able to do two surf lifesaving training sessions each week in the buildup to the Christchurch nationals.

Westshore's director of lifeguarding Brian Quirk, who has been with the club for 51 years, said the fact Ocean Beach Kiwi had more lifeguards entered than his club made the win more satisfying.

"Ocean Beach Kiwi have some pretty good beach sprinters but these championships are won on the water not on the beach."

Quirk pointed out Lloyd Jones was one of several individuals who shone for Westshore. Others included New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby rep Tim Farrell, Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV rugby player Devan Flanders, under-16 surf race winner Oskar Lynch, open men's kingpin Cian Jefferson as a coach and competitor and Summer Barker, a daughter of former Hawks basketballer Murray Barker and a grand daughter of 1954 New Zealand Commonwealth Games diving representative Jeanette Barker.

Westshore boast the previous best run with the title with a 10-year stint which ended in 1971. Westshore finished the weekend's champs with 390 points, Ocean Beach Kiwi with 289, Waimarama with 173 and Pacific with seven.