Waterskiing: Northland benefit at nationals

A lack of water over recent months hasn't stopped Northland's water skiing team from bringing home numerous medals from the National Water Ski Championships.

On the back of a number of strong individual performances, the Northland team was crowned the top team at the event for the fourth year running - a result which was not expected with five of the usual team absent due to injuries or other commitments.

Highlighting Northland's top performance was 20-year-old Toni Atkinson who was named in the New Zealand under-21 team.

On top of her selection, Atkinson took gold in under-21 women's slalom and jump, before winning silver overall in the under-21 age group.

Capping Atkinson's performance off was her gold medal performance in the prestigious open women's jump.

To honour her performances, Atkinson won the Silver Star Series trophy for performances at tournaments throughout the season.

Also achieving at the championships was Puhipuhi's Courtney Williams who completed a clean sweep of the sub-junior division (under 10-years) in her second nationals with a gold medal-winning performance in the slalom, tricks and the overall.

Williams' younger brother Mitchell also proved to have the winning formula as he won silver in the tricks section and bronze overall.

Jake Weller, of Kauri, held out competition from a large field in the under-14 junior boys division to win gold in the slalom.

Kamo's Emma and Madison Wainwright also represented Northland in sub-junior slalom in their first nationals, with Madison making the final and Emma skiing a personal best.

Other members to win medals were: Xanthe Adams, girls under-14, silver in tricks; Curtis Williams, boys under-17, silver in slalom, bronze in tricks, bronze in overall; Vaughan Williams, senior men's over-35, gold in tricks, gold in jump, gold in overall, bronze in slalom; Glen Williams, senior men's over-35, silver in tricks, silver in jump, silver in slalom, silver in overall; Sarah Wainwright, senior women over-30, gold in slalom, gold in tricks, gold in jump, gold in overall; Bernie Paterson senior women over-30, silver in tricks, silver in jump, silver in overall, bronze in slalom.