Oceans celebrates 20 years in style

Photos: Rod Salt

Mount Maunganui turned on the weather and waves for the 20th Oceans event held last weekend.

There were four days of fine weather and some very challenging surf conditions for Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s premier under 14 competition.

During the February 27 to March 1 event there were 830 participants from 47 clubs including Kawana Waters from Australia.

Kawana Waters team coach Paul Green was very impressed with the event. 

“We don’t have anything like this in Australia. The way this is run by the volunteers provides great competition with a really fun vibe.”

Teams travelled from across New Zealand to take part in a variety of surf life saving races on the beach and in the water.

“Oceans is about creating an experience for the kids that is fun and exciting but also challenges them to test their limits in a safe environment. We want these young people to continue being involved in surf lifesaving and become our future Surf Lifeguards,” says Event Manager Matt Warren.

The 20th year of the event was especially poignant for one volunteer in particular who has attended every Oceans since the inaugural event in 2001.

Greg Rieger from Mount Maunganui said the event has grown from just over 200 kids in that first year to over four times that number attending this year. 

Greg Rieger dressed in his volunteering outfit.

The event continues to “keep the focus on creating a special weekend for the kids”. 

“I keep coming back because of all the smiling faces in front of me,” Greg said before presenting the medals on the final day.

The future surf lifeguards were challenged during the weekend with 1m-2m swells that created loads of excitement for the 830 enthusiastic participants and hundreds of cheering spectators. 

During marshalling of the under 12 girls on Friday, a few were a bit anxious about the large waves so Devon Halligan, a Surf Lifesaving world champion, stepped in to support them by swimming five run-swim-run races in a row with the under 12 girls.

“It is the incredible volunteers and supporters like Devon that make this event so fantastic. Our whole focus for Oceans is the kids,” Event Referee Richard Whinham says.

It was a fitting end to the weekend that the overall top club was the home club Mount Maunganui.

The team from “The Mount” performed well across all events and age groups managing to overcome a tough tussle with the 2019 winners, Omanu, from the Bay of Plenty. Whangamata also gave them a good run for their money to round out the top three.

This concludes the official Surf Life Saving season for the under 14’s. Oceans 21 will be held at Mount Maunganui from February 25 to 28, 2021.

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Results 2020 Oceans
Mt Maunganui

Beach Flags

U14 Male. Thomas Richardson, Mt Maunganui 1, Ned Steane, Whakatane 2, Max Reynolds, Maranui 3.

U14 Female. Caro Olliver, Opunake 1, Lila Feasey, Maranui 2, Tiani Kensington, NPOB 3.

U13 Male. Marley Igasan, Mt Maunganui 1, Iraia Roberts, Westshore 2, Mako Ah Far, Titahi Bay 3.

U13 Female. Indy Gibson, Pukehina 1, Rubi Hart, Waikanae 2, Anika Cowley, Whangamata 3.

U12 Male. Luca Joint-Rotondo, Muriwai 1, Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 2, Ciaran Manning, Mt Maunganui 3.

U12 Female. Lucy Angland, Waimarama 1, Jessica Hanna, Brighton 2, Emilia Goldsmith, Pauanui 3.

U11 Male. Ryan Hemsley, Titahi Bay 1, Dylan Blanchard, Red Beach 2, Felix Thomas, Paekakariki 3.

U11 Female. Charlize Duncan, Fitzroy 1, Eden Wood, Whangamata 2, Freya Beaumont, Red Beach 3.

 

Beach Sprint

U14 Male. Zak Johnson, Fitzroy 1, Thomas Richardson, Mt Maunganui 2, Logan West, Mt Maunganui 3.

U14 Female. Charlotte Goldsmith, Pauanui 1, Tiani Kensington, NPOB 2, Lulu Johnson, Mt Maunganui 3.

U13 Male. Callum Gordon, East End 1, Marley Igasan, Mt Maunganui 2, Jackson Whitaker, Omaha Beach 3.

U13 Female. Chloe Kapene, Waikanae 1, Samantha Lascelles, Sumner 2, Bella McEwan, Fitzroy 3.

U12 Male. Oliver Gregory, Piha 1, Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 2, Sam Leyland, Whangamata 3.

U12 Female. Asha James, Omanu 1, Charley March, Red Beach 2, Emilia Goldsmith, Pauanui 3.

U11 Male. Ryan Hemsley, Titahi Bay 1, Dylan Blanchard, Red Beach 2, Luke Gillbanks, Papamoa 3.

U11 Female. Charlize Duncan, Fitzroy 1, Eden Wood, Whangamata 2, Lucy Robinson, Ocean Beach Kiwi 3.

 

Run Swim Run

U14 Male. Daniel Callebaut, Fitzroy 1, Gene Baggott, Mt Maunganui 2, Aidan Chesney, Lyall Bay 3.

U14 Female. Talitha McEwan, Mt Maunganui 1, Tara Shotter, East End 2, Madeline Schmidt, Kawana Waters 3, Bella Wansbrough, Fitzroy 3.

U13 Male. Henry Scholes, Mt Maunganui 1, Callum Gordon, East End 2, Mathew Mihaljevich, Muriwai 3.

U13 Female. Jessica Pilbrow, Papamoa 1, Arianna Roberts-Lochray, Papamoa 2, Monique Bartlett, Omanu 3.

U12 Male. Christopher Callebaut, Fitzroy 1, Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 2, Fraser Walker, Omaha Beach 3.

U12 Female. Charlie Keepa, Wainui 1, Mckenzie Rowlands, East End 2, Charlotte Aburn, Brighton 3.

U11 Male. Finn Crawford, Omanu 1, Finn Freemantle, Whangamata 2, Jamie Blair, Brighton 3.

U11 Female. Honour Rikihana, Omanu 1, Erika Orbell, Orewa 2, Poppy Richardson, Omanu 3.

 

Board Relay

U14 Male. Red Beach (Jasper Cornish/Laine Creighton/Kaiha Gilbertson) 1, Omanu (Zachary Bryant/Jarvis York/Jack McSweeney) 2, Midway (Tyron Evans/Jack Lepper/Kyle Seabrook) 3.

U14 Female. Fitzroy (Sage Piebenga/Mia Padrutt/Bella Wansbrough) 1, Whangamata (Maggie Robinson/Milana Tapper/Anika Cowley) 2, Kawana Waters (Sasha Davis/Dakota Luke/Madeline Schmidt) 3, Midway (Sophie Petro/Petiata Bowden/Jodiesha Kirkpatrick)

U12 Male. Omanu (Finn Crawford/Charlie Shivnan/Oli Hansen) 1, Mt Maunganui (Vinnie Baggott/Ben Marshall/Nicholas Reeder) 2, Midway (Harry Hayward/Quinn Lockwood/Riley Knight) 3.

U12 Female. Mt Maunganui (Tetsani Thompson/Hayley Fowler/Olivia Middleweek) 1, Kawana Waters (Stella Green/Sophia Davis/Chelsee Sturgeon) 2, Wainui (Charlie Keepa/Amelia Arthur/Isabel Arthur) 2, Omanu (Asha James/Mackenzie Bryant/Grace Richardson).

 

Board Rescue

U14 Male. Midway (Tyron Evans/Jack Lepper) 1, Midway (William Matthews/Kyle Seabrook) 2, Omanu (Leo Keaney/Christian McNamara) 3.

U14 Female. Whangamata (Milana Tapper/Maggie Robinson) 1, Mt Maunganui (Danielle Fowler/Vita Yarrell-Stevenson) 2, Mt Maunganui (Talitha McEwan/Lulu Johnson) 3.

 

Beach Relay

U14 Mixed. Mt Maunganui (Logan West/Thomas Richardson/Lulu Johnson/Brea Miller) 1, NPOB (Oskar Kleinsorge/Sam Corlett/Tiani Kensington/Ruby Newton) 2, Omanu (Mason Verster/Zachary Bryant/Ella McSweeney/Jessica Galley) 3.

U13 Mixed. Mt Maunganui (Marley Igasan/Isaac Schuler/Ella-Marie Pahuru/Ella McIvor) 1, Omanu (Rico Nixon/Luke Morton/Macy Nixon/Monique Bartlett) 2, Sumner (Liam Hall/Ollie Hastie/Samantha Lascelles/Sophia Devereux) 3.

U12 Mixed. Red Beach (Josh O'Sullivan/Tom McIntyre/Isabella Goldbert/Charley March) 1, Mt Maunganui (Ciaran Manning/Nicholas Reeder/Tetsani Thompson/Eleanor Pugh) 2, Mt Maunganui (Elliot Drewe/Vinnie Baggott/Paige Rickard/Hayley Fowler) 3.

U11 Mixed. NPOB (Ethan Peacock/Henry Martin/Keziah Fakavamoeanga/Maia Dinnison) 1, Red Beach (Freya Beaumont/Bianca Person/Dylan Blanchard/Tyler Anderson) 2, Titahi Bay (Ashton Hamer/Ryan Hemsley/Ayla Hamer/Rhylie Ingham) 3.

 

2km Mixed Relay

Mixed. Mt Maunganui (Elliott Pugh/Jacob Reeder/Lulu Johnson/Olivia Hays) 1, Omanu (Zachary Bryant/Jarvis York/Renee Carey/Monique Bartlett) 2, Lyall Bay (Conor Chesney/Aidan Chesney/Amy McHardy/Ava Saulbrey) 3.

 

Grand Cameron

U14 Mixed. Mairangi Bay (Natana Pokura/Michaela Pocock/Larn Hamblyn-Ough/Lena Hamblyn-Ough/Jack Forsman/Emily Glackin) 1, Mt Maunganui (Gene Baggott/Brea Miller/Jacob Reeder/Talitha McEwan/Thomas Richardson/Lulu Johnson) 2, Whangamata (Jono Allen/Anika Cowley/Benjamin Riordan/Milana Tapper/Wills Leyland/Maggie Robinson) 3.

U12 Mixed. Kawana Waters (Indigo Evans/Indi Stegeman/Jaxson Tutt/Sophia Davis/Jordan Point/Stella Green) 1, Midway (Seth Micaiah Ingoe/Jessica McIntyre/Harry Hayward/Ella Sutton/Quinn Lockwood/Emily Petro) 1, Mt Maunganui (Ciaran Manning/Eleanor Pugh/Nicholas Reeder/Hayley Fowler/Vinnie Baggott/Tetsani Thompson) 2, Omanu (Griffin Hunt/Asha James/Charlie Shivnan/Grace Richardson/Finn Crawford/Mackenzie Bryant) 3.

 

Tube Rescue

U14 Male. Midway (Tyron Evans/Kyle Seabrook) 1, Mt Maunganui (Gene Baggott/Jacob Reeder) 2, Lyall Bay (Thomas White/Conor Chesney) 3.

U14 Female. Kawana Waters (Madeline Schmidt/Dakota Luke) 1, East End (Tara Shotter/Arnika Watson) 1, Mt Maunganui (Danielle Fowler/Talitha McEwan) 2, Lyall Bay (Annabelle Stirling/Alessandra Unsworth) 3.

 

Surf Race

U14 Male. Kailen Brackebush, Orewa 1, Tyron Evans, Midway 2, Larn Hamblyn-Ough, Mairangi Bay 3.

U14 Female. Milana Tapper, Whangamata 1, Tara Shotter, East End 2, Bella Wansbrough, Fitzroy 3.

U13 Male. Callum Gordon, East End 1, Henry Scholes, Mt Maunganui 2, Mason King, Orewa 3.

U13 Female. Jessica Pilbrow, Papamoa 1, Monique Bartlett, Omanu 2, Arianna Roberts-Lochray, Papamoa 3.

U12 Male. Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 1, Fraser Walker, Omaha Beach 2, Christopher Callebaut, Fitzroy 3.

U12 Female. Isobella Davoren, Papamoa 1, Mckenzie Rowlands, East End 2, Charlie Keepa, Wainui 3.

U11 Male. Finn Freemantle, Whangamata 1, Finn Crawford, Omanu 2, Ethan Peacock, NPOB 3.

U11 Female. Honour Rikihana, Omanu 1, Erika Orbell, Orewa 2, Maia Dinnison, NPOB 3.

 

Diamond Race

U14 Male. Daniel Callebaut, Fitzroy 1, Tiago Chamberlain, Waimairi 2, Tyron Evans, Midway 3.

U14 Female. Talitha McEwan, Mt Maunganui 1, Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Midway 2, Madeline Schmidt, Kawana Waters 3, Amy McHardy, Lyall Bay 3.

U13 Male. Callum Gordon, East End 1, Henry Scholes, Mt Maunganui 2, Mathew Mihaljevich, Muriwai 3.

U13 Female. Chloe Kapene, Waikanae 1, Alyssa Tapper, Whangamata 2, Annabelle Stirling, Lyall Bay 3.

U12 Male. Fraser Walker, Omaha Beach 1, Christopher Callebaut, Fitzroy 2, Josh O'Sullivan, Red Beach 3.

U12 Female. Mackenzie Bryant, Omanu 1, Georgia Davoren, Papamoa 2, Ella Sutton, Midway 3.

U11 Male. Finn Freemantle, Whangamata 1, Finn Crawford, Omanu 2, Jamie Blair, Brighton 3.

U11 Female. Honour Rikihana, Omanu 1, Olivia Verryt, Omanu 2, Lola Lowry, Mt Maunganui 3.

 

Board Race

U14 Male. Matthew James Hickman, South Brighton 1, Kailen Brackebush, Orewa 2, Daniel Callebaut, Fitzroy 3.

U14 Female. Maggie Robinson, Whangamata 1, Caitlyn Esterhuizen, Whakatane 2, Leah McCallum, South Brighton 3.

U13 Male. Callum Gordon, East End 1, Jack McSweeney, Omanu 2, Henry Scholes, Mt Maunganui 3.

U13 Female. Chloe Kapene, Waikanae 1, Annabelle Stirling, Lyall Bay 2, Mia Padrutt, Fitzroy 3.

U12 Male. Vinnie Baggott, Mt Maunganui 1, Harry Hayward, Midway 2, Jerome Tamatea, Waikanae 3.

U12 Female. Ella Sutton, Midway 1, Tetsani Thompson, Mt Maunganui 2, Holly Rowland, Whakatane 3.

U11 Male. Ethan Peacock, NPOB 1, Will Robinson, Whangamata 2, Finn Freemantle, Whangamata 3.

U11 Female. Ruby Greetham, Omanu 1, Poppy Richardson, Omanu 2, Amelie Clark, Taylors Mistake 3.

 

Points

Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service - 74
Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club - 51
Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club - 34
Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club - 30
Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club - 30
Midway Surf Life Saving Club - 29
East End Surf Life Saving Club - 25
Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club - 16
New Plymouth Old Boys Surf Life Saving Club - 16
Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club - 15
Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club - 12
Orewa Surf Life Saving Club - 10
Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club - 8
Omaha Beach Surf Life Saving Club - 7
Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club - 6
Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club - 6
Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club - 5
Wainui Surf Life Saving Club - 5
Brighton Surf Life Saving Club - 5
Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Services - 5
Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club - 5
South Brighton Surf Life Saving Club - 4
Piha Surf Life Saving Club - 3
Pukehina Surf Rescue - 3
Sumner Surf Life Saving Club - 3
Opunake Surf Life Saving Club - 3
Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club - 3
Maranui Surf Life Saving Club - 3
Waimairi Surf Life Saving Club - 2
Westshore Surf Life Saving Club - 2
Taylors Mistake Surf Life Saving Club - 1
Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Club - 1
Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards - 1

 

For more information, please contact:
Melanie Louden
Media and Communications Manager
Surf Life Saving New Zealand
021 757 433
melanie.louden@surflifesaving.org.nz