Surf sports season gets started with long distance races

The local surf lifesaving competition season kicked off last Friday with the annual long distance races at Ngamotu Beach.

Nearly 40 athletes from Taranaki’s three main surf clubs took part in the event.

The leading performer in the open men’s category was Gerry Callebaut (Fitzroy), who collected a win in the 4.5 kilometre board paddle followed by a third placing in the 8km surf ski race.

Fitzroy paddlers Ben McCallum and Carl Barnes were first and second respectively in the surf ski race.

The leading open women’s athlete was Nicola Godwin (East End) who took out first place in the board race as well as top spot in the surf ski.

In the under 19 age group the standout male athlete was Moritz Padrutt (East End) who won both the male board and ski races.

Lachlan Moles (East End) and Jack Cleland (NPOB) were second and third respectively in the board race while Robson Old (East End) and Kaden Brock (East End) were the other top three place-getters in the male ski race.

It was a clean sweep for East End in the under 19 women’s ski race with Julia Padrutt first, Lucy North second and Scarlett Old in third.

East End also swept the under

19 women’s board race in which Claudia Kelly took out first place ahead of Julia Padrutt (second) and Lucy North (third).

Leading the way in the under

16 male division was Josh Thorburn (East End) who won both the board and ski races.

Second and third respectively in the male board race were Zac Stolte (Fitzroy) and Maz Wright (East End).

Wright also took out second place in the ski race.

Amongst the under 16 women, the top three place-getters in the board race were Emma North (East End) first, Emma Shotter (East End) second with Isla Robinson from NPOB in third place.

There were no entrants for the under 16 women’s ski race.

The next competition on the local scene is the Stan Bridger Memorial Carnival which will be hosted by East End on Sunday, November 24 starting at noon.