Sunset Beach are the BP New Zealand IRB South Island Champions 2019 - Waikouaiti Beach 16th March

Sunset Beach travelled to Waikouaiti, Dunedin in the South Island to compete in the BP New Zealand IRB South Island Champs on 16th March. Congratulations Sunset Beach, it was a close result on team points but for the 1st time they have won the South Island Champs with 140 points, St Kilda on 131 points.

It felt a bit like a raid on their treasure to add this trophy to our accomplishments this season but you can be assured, they did not make it easy for us and it was well earned. Good all round results from the whole team.

The team enjoyed their accommodation at a Girl Guide Camp not far from Waikouaiti Beach. They will use it again in a few weeks time.

The IRB teams will travel to Waikouaiti in Dunedin again in a few weeks to defend their Top Club title at the New Zealand IRB Championships, 4th to 6th April. We expect conditions to be rather chilly so packing all the woollies and thick wet suites. Some of the patients will be in the water many times during the day, keeping warm is a mission. Not an envious team position when we travel South, but they can take pride in their contribution to the team.

2019 Surf Life Saving New Zealand BP IRB North island Championships - Waihi Beach 16th - 17th February

Sunset Beach are the North Island IRB Champions.

It was hot, hard racing at Waihi Beach that weekend with challenging surf conditions making it a spectators sport. Sunset Beach had excellent results. World Champions Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier won five gold medals in Assembly, Mass, Single Rescue, Tube Rescue and Teams race. Our other Women’s teams backed up that performance with Samantha Coughlan and Abi Chapman with a silver x 2 and Bronze x 2. Robbie Shrimpton and Samantha-Jane Harding won silver x 2, gold x 1.

Lola Key and Hannah Simpson with patient Siobhain Oliver took four straight golds in the U20 Women’s Comp and a silver in the Open women’s team race. Shane and Mark Edwards won two gold in the Men’s Single and Tube Rescues, and two bronze while Hogan Shrimpton and Anton Baptist had a very consistent day with three Silver medals and a bronze. U22 men’s saw Judd Redman and Jhett Hunt win a silver and bronze. All teams contributed to a massive team score of 179 points with Mairangi Bay on 63.

Everyone exhausted from the heat with long days of racing. A big weekend of racing for 33 athletes in 53 races! President of Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service said “Another amazing effort by this dedicated team. You only reach the top of the mountain if the team is committed. Sunset once again showed True Grit.”

Teams will head to the South Island IRB Champs in March followed by the National Championships in April also in Dunedin, South Island.

Surf Boat News - Northern Region Champs - Ruakaka

Great effort from both crews at the Northern Region Championships at Omaha.

The competition doubled as Northern Region Champs and the final round of the NZ surfboat series. Sunset Sirens took out the silver medal, winning their first race, followed by 2nd and 3rd place finishes. While the Young Guns got first overall, finishing with two 1st and a 2nd.

Northern Region Champs at Omaha resulted in double gold for the Young Guns and double silver for the Sirens, who missed out on gold by the nose of a boat! This was an incredible result considering the crews experience. Now that the series is over both crews will be shifting focus to the Nationals which are just under a month away.

Taylor Shrimpton also had success with two gold medals at the Northern Region Championships. She won the Open Women’s 2 km run and Open Women’s Beach Sprint.

Northern Region IRB Championships Ruakaka - Sunset Beach Retain Title for Seventh Year

Ruakaka turned on the weather and a bit of sporty surf for the Northern Region IRB Champs on January 12th. Sunset Beach had 11 teams competing in this first competition for the season. It was a long day at the beach finishing prize giving at 5.30pm last night.
Results were excellent, taking the top club points trophy for the 7th year running with 102 points. Our NZ Champions Shane and Mark Edwards, Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier dominated the open Men’s and Women’s events while Lola Key and Hannah Simpson had a clean sweep in the U19 Women. Busy day for the patients and our new officials on the beach. Congratulations Sunset, another well earned effort!

Sunset Beach Lifeguards - Juniors and Rookies - January 2019

This summer on the beach, the Rookie and Junior Lifeguard programes have been in full swing. So much fun on anything that floats and learning some surf skills as well. Our future lifeguards in training. Great to see them all having ago with good numbers attending and parent help.