Sunset Beach Lifeguards are 2018 BP Surf Life Saving IRB Champions and Top Club for the third year.

Sunset Beach raced with professionalism and their skills were 'surf smart'.  The team performances of Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier dominated the Open Women events. Brothers, Shane and Mark Edwards, ended top on points for Open Men’s and were the only team to make both finals from all clubs with podium finishes both times.  Yes, Sunset can be proud showing awesome team spirit. They were first to the beach, first to fuel, first to help someone in need on the beach and in the water assisting with rescues, flipped boats and enjoying every moment of this experience. 

Racing didn't finish till 5.30pm on the Saturday and we were expecting more of the same Sunday but the surf just got bigger breaking beyond the buoys.  Event organisers ran some heats of the single rescue but with boats flipping everywhere and the buoys having to be about 1 km out to sea just to get beyond the break, it just got too dangerous.  We could only watch in awe as mother nature took over and won the battle.  Event called off with nobody scoring anymore points.  Points stand from yesterday.  Sunset Beach Top Club with 60 points and St Clair nearest with 35 points. Shane and Mark Edwards were Top Open Men’s team and New Zealand Champions.  Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier were Top Open Women’s team and New Zealand Champions.  Prize giving, then a bit of celebrating to follow.  Everyone is safe, no injuries for Sunset Beach and NO flipped boats.  Nice one aye!  What an awesome result!!!

Gold and Silver Medal, Open Men's Tube Rescue.

TSB New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships - Midway Beach, Gisborne 17 & 18th March

Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service - Bronze Medal U19 Men’s Surf Boat Long Course
Sunset Beach toughed it out at Midway Beach, Gisborne at the TSB New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships.

The Sunset Hipsters came through to make the finals on the Sunday for both the U19 Men’s Surf Boat Long and Short Courses. They fought hard to earn bronze in the Long Course and a fourth in the Short Couse. Congratulations to this team who deserves recognition for their hard work. Team members in the photo from left to right: Flynn Avery, Sebastian Neilands, Mikey Waldegrave (Sweep), Xavier Lusby, Sean Oliver and Harrison Fulton.

Weather and surf conditions on the Saturday wiped out the Sunset Young Guns in two races injuring two crewmen, breaking two sweep oars and the loss of their water pump causing a whole in the bottom of the boat. They were coming 2nd overall in the U23 Men’s Surf Boat before disaster struck and were unable to continue racing. They had to pull out of their events. What a disappointing end to the season for this team who were enjoying their first season in the U23 Men’s and doing so well.

Sunset Hipsters - Bronze Medal Surf Boat Long Course

Tough Surf Conditions at Midway Beach, Gisborne

Sunset Beach Lifeguards travel to BP South Island IRB Championships - Warrington Beach

Shane Edwards, Mark Edwards and Siobhain Oliver travelled to the South Island and Warrington Beach to compete in the Open Men's events at the BP South Island IRB Championships. They did extremely well, making finals and getting placings. Silver Medal Tube Rescue, Silver Medal Assembly Rescue, Bronze medal Mass Rescue. Sunset Beach were in 8th place with 17 points. Not bad for a one team effort and obviously worth the trip to the South Island. Carolyn Edwards also travelled with the team as an official for the event.

Northern Region Surf Life Saving Surf Boat Championships - Ruakaka February 24-25th

Double Gold for Sunset Beach!! The Hipsters competed this weekend in the Northern Region Surf Life Saving Surf Boat Championships at Ruakaka. They competed in the U23 Men's Surf Boat Long Course and Short Course, winning Gold medals for both races. Competing were Ryan Brash, Flynn Avery, Sean Olliver, Xavier Lusby and Mikey Waldegrave (sweep). Well done guys for flying the Sunset Beach flag high at this event. Thank you to the support team and Sunset Beach officials who traveled to the event.

Sunset Hipsters - Gold Medal U23 Men's

Sunset Beach Champions - BP Surf Life Saving North Island IRB Championships - Waipu Cove

Extremely wet conditions were what faced the competitors at Waipu Cove for the BP Surf Live Saving North Island IRB Championships. The rain was relentless and heavy through to about 2pm when we had some break in the weather… it didn’t stop the racing in these testing conditions. Sunset Beach had 10 teams competing and all teams performed well to add points to the 139 total to put Sunset Beach in 1st place, 50 points ahead of East End on 89 points.
Class Act! Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier were unbeatable today with 5 gold medals. Other notable performances were Senior Mens - Shane and Mark Edwards who were on the podium for all of their races with 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. U22 Mens – Judd Redmond and Anton Baptist raced extremely well for 1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal.
Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service were proud of the performance of our teams for what was a long hard day at the beach and retaining the title for the 3rd year running – Top Club, North Island IRB Championships.

Sunset Beach Lifeguards - 2018 BP Surf Life Saving North Island IRB Champions - Top Club

Taylor Shrimpton and Jemima Ferrier were unbeatable with 5 gold medals - Open Women's