Swimming: Ruri claims dozen golds

If Northland's Age Group Championship results are anything to go by, there is no chance of stopping Freyah Ruri, at least not in Northland swimming pools. The 14-year-old Northwave swimmer dominated every race she entered, winning 12 events, including combined age races.

Ruri's success wasn't the only highlight of the weekend, with many swimmers proving top in their age groups by winning multiple gold medals.

Fellow Northwave swimmers Kayla Gentil, 19, Haydn Jurisich, 17, and Mia Gordon won eight or nine medals each, along with Bay of Islands' Jeremy Elliot.

Not bad considering there were 170 swimmers from 15 clubs at the event, including some from Auckland and Australia.

Nga Papahu Swimming Club, based in the Far North, won the prestigious Crawford Woodman Trophy for the eight person relay across four age groups.

Other relay honours were shared among Bream Bay, winning two, Bay of Islands and Northwave.

Over the weekend, many Northland swimmers achieved qualifying standards for the national championships.

The Northland junior swimmers, 12 years and under, spearheaded by 2012 New Zealand Junior Championship medallists Ellie Eastwood and Sam Bailey, will travel to Auckland in February to compete at their nationals.

The 13 years and over swimmers, headed by 2012 New Zealand Age Group Championship medallists Melita Raravula and Ruri, will compete at the New Zealand Age Group Championships in Wellington in March.

Swimmers will have another chance of qualifying for the national championships at the Northland Summer Carnival in Dargaville on February 2.The Northern Advocate has a photo gallery from the Northland Age Groups on their website.