Club Champs were a load of fun and well competed this year. With record numbers attending, credit goes to all the gear on hand recently maintened, 1 dozen paddle boards seen going west in the men's paddle board comp. Clubbies competed in Beach Sprints, Beach relays, Beach Flags, Paddle Board and Swim.
Sunset Young Guns were so close to a Gold medal with 1st equal in the u19 Surf Boat Long Course event at Ohope Beach. Only countback gave Titahi Bay the Gold. Sunset Young Guns were however presented Gold for their efforts in the NZ Surf Boat Series and the Hipsters received a bronze medal. Huge effort for the Hipsters considering first year rowing together.
The Sunset Young Guns earned Silver Medal in the Short and Long Course events in very testing conditions that at times had us wondering if they were going to cancel racing in the afternoon. Congratulations to Ted and Mikey who kept the boys safe with some amazing sweeping of the boats out to the bouys and back. Check out photos from the event on our facebook page.
Sunset lifeguards competed with fantastic results at the NZ BP Surf Lifesaving North Island Champs. with 105 points they were well clear of East End on 67 points and Papamoa on 63. Shane Edwards was proud of all his teams who made most of their finals and won gold, silver and bronze medals. Full results still to be posted as soon as loaded the NZ surf lifesaving site. 8 Teams competed and Sunset also won the race of the day the Open Teams race.
4 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 4 bronze medals. Points results:
Overall Points North Island IRB's 2016
1st Sunset 105
2nd East End 67
3rd Papamoa 63
4th Waimarama 53
5th Waikanae 27
6th Opunake 23
7th Mairangi Bay 22
8th Palmerston North 20
9th St Clair 18
10th Westshore 16
11th Paekakariki 11
12th United North Piha 6
13th Omaha 4
14th Kariaotahi 2
Click here for facebook photos>>>
Sunset Beach U19 Surf Boat Crew - Third at North Island Champs and 3rd in Champion of Champions race. Check this link to the Surf lifesaving site for the report:
It was a wet day with some rough surf for the first day of the North Island Surf Boat Champs at Waihi Beach. Taking two hours to get through the first heat of the Short Course, each race had it's share of excitement and carnage. 60+ teams entered the champs making it one of the largest competions. I stayed for the first race of the U19 boat crews and it too had it's share of challenges. First time out at Waihi for our new U19 crew The Hipsters with Mikey Waldergrave sweeping. It was Mikey's first time in rough surf and he held the crew together well gaining some valuable experience and bring the crew home unscathed (even with a dip in the sea to start). Ted's crew had some upsets going out and coming back in, meeting Waihi and Bethells a few waves into the row, three boats came together. On the way back in, Bethells broached and took out our sweep oar (see photo of broken oar). Ted's Young Guns managed a 4th but we can see they deserved a better finish. Expect to see some good finishes for the rest of the weekend based on this first race.
The U19 Surf Boat Crew of Carl Morgan, Ryan Brash, Jack Morgan, Sam Huges and Stuart Keven (Sweep) helped Northern region to a gold Medal today with an impressive display of rowing.
So proud of you all... Check our more photos on our facebook page>>>
Click on below link for NZ surf Lifesaving report and team photo.
http://www.surflifesaving.org.nz/sport/news/details?f=2016%2Ffebruary%2Fnorthern-region-comes-out-on-top-at-provincial-surf-sports-event%2F
