Whanganui rock'n'roll dancers jive and thrive

Mitch and Lisa Oldfield

They rocked and they rolled ... and there may even have been a whole lot of shakin' going on.

Thrown in some fancy footwork and tantalising twirls, and the dancers from River Rockers Whanganui won themselves six medals at last month's national championships.

Whanganui's rock 'n' roll dance club has been going for 31 years and regularly makes a good showing at the senior national event.

Scott Greenlees and Kath Mence

Club president Donna Burns was particularly proud of this year's effort when the rock 'n' roll champs were held in Wellington.

Fifteen River Rockers dancers and 26 supporters made the trip to the capital, with top honours going to Scott Greenlees and Kath Mence who came first in the golden section, as well as picking up third place for best-dressed couple.

Gill Potaka Osborne and Shona Matthews

In the senior same sex pair, Gill Potaka Osborne and Shona Matthews were second, while Paula Mosen and Celone Tuka came fourth in the open same sex pair event.

And there were third placings for the senior team of Gill Potaka Osborne, Shona Matthews, Kath Mence, Scott Greenlees, Shane Williams and Neil Rutherford, and for the senior restricted duo of Mitch and Lisa Oldfield.

Rounding out the six medals were Hamuera Tume, Mitch Oldfield and Wayne Sandbrooke who came first in the novelty section.

The River Rockers club has about 100 members and holds classes each Wednesday at the old Red Cross hall in Trafalgar Square, with children at 5.45pm; children and beginners at 6.30pm; internediates at 7.45pm and open dance from 8.30pm.

Shane Williams, Scott Greenlees, Neil Rutherford Gill Potaka Osborne, Shona Matthews, and Kath Mence

Paula Mosen and Celone Tuka