Mount Maunganui defends Eastern Region Pool Champs title

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service successfully defended their Eastern Region Pool Championships title in Hamilton over the weekend.

The Bay of Plenty club finished on 241 points, well clear of Papamoa in second place with 177 points followed by Red Beach in third (132 points).

Orewa (78) and Omanu (59) rounded out the top five after the two-day competition at Waterworld in Te Rapa, Hamilton.

Altogether, around 200 competitors from 12 clubs took part in the champs that featured events ranging from manikin carries and obstacles to line throw and rescue medleys. All the events are based around rescue capability and are specific to saving people's lives- what surf lifesaving is all about.

Surf Life Saving Eastern Region Sport Manager Mark Inglis says it was a great event to kick-off the regional sport season.

Some of the stand out performances came from nine different athletes who won all of the individual events in their age category.

Libby Bradley (Mt Maunganui) took seven golds in the Under 19 Girls events, Ben Johnston (Papamoa) took seven in the Open Mens, Daniel Barron (Mt Maunganui) took seven gold in the Under 19 Boys and Levi Ata (Orewa) took six gold in the Under 16 as well as a silver in the Under 19.

Daniel Shanahan (Mt Maunganui) took four golds in the Under 14 Boys, Tarquin Magner (Mt Maunganui) took four gold in the Under 13 Boys, Cameron Gilmore (Mairangi Bay) took four gold in the Under 12 Boys, Jasper Cornish (Red Beach) took four gold in the Under 11 Boys and Millie Middleton (Red Beach) took four in the Under 11 Girls.

Mr Inglis says it was a great weekend of racing and he would like to thank all the clubs and athletes for not only attending but for the wonderful level of cooperation and behaviour which enabled the event to run so smoothly.

"A special thanks also to the volunteer officials and water crew who did an outstanding job and, who without, we could not run these events," he says.

For the full breakdown of results please click here.

Club points

Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service- 241
Papamoa SLSC- 177
Red Beach SLSC- 132
Orewa SLSC- 78
Omanu SLSC- 59
Mairangi Bay SLSC- 49
Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services- 21
Piha SLSC- 8
Whangamata SLSC- 6
Whakatane SLSC- 6
Whiritoa Lifeguard Service- 4
East End SLSC- 4

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz