Ocean Beach Kiwi takes CRCs title

Ocean Beach Kiwi has taken out the top Central Region club spot after a big day of racing at the 2017 Central Regional Championships on Waimarama Beach on Saturday.

The sunny Hawke's Bay lived up to its name, turning up the heat for the annual event which, this year, saw a record 362 entries.

It was a tight race for the top three with Ocean Beach Kiwi finishing on 67 points ahead of Lyall Bay on 64 and East End on 62.

Event manager Richard Whinham says a new race format was introduced this year which ran smoothly and went down well with the competitors.

Racing began at 8am with events including board, surf and ski races, Ironman, beach sprints and flags, canoes and surf boats.

"The Central Regional Championships has been growing steadily from year to year and it was fantastic to see that continue with an amazing day's racing on the beach and wonderful cooperation with the new race format, he says.

"Thank you to all of the officials, volunteers and the Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club for all of their work in making the event possible."

For full results visit http://liveresults.co.nz/67. For photos click here and for video highlights, click here.

The 2017 Central Regional Junior Championships takes place on Saturday at Taranaki's Oakura Beach.

Around 170 competitors from Under 10s through to Under 14s will tackle a race programme of beach events including sprints, flags and 2km beach relay to on-water events including surf race, tube rescue and board relay from 8.30am.

Mr Whinham says the event provides a great stepping stone for novice athletes and is great for all junior athletes in preparation for the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships which will take place at Mt Maunganui in March.

For more information click here and for updates from the event visit the Central Region Facebook page.

CRCs club points table:

Ocean Beach Kiwi, 67
Lyall Bay, 64
East End, 62
Paekakariki, 40
Fitzroy, 35
Westshore, 18
Waimarama, 14
Titahi Bay, 13
Pacific, 6
NPOB, 6
Palmerston North, 4
Maranui, 1

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