Ahipara club nominated for rescue

The Far North Surf Rescue organisation features among nominations from around the country hoping to be recognised at the annual Toyota Financial Services Surf Life Saving Northern Region Awards of Excellence in Auckland this Saturday.

FNSR is again up for the prestigious Rescue of the Year award, for a rescue operation which took place at Cape Reinga last September. The incident began after police were notified a young local diver had gone missing and requested the assistance of FNSR to try to locate the diver. The Ahipara-based club called for support from other Northern Region clubs. The team of lifeguards involved in the rescue included Dave Ross and Thom Anderson (both Far North), Connor Mackereth (Ruakaka), Kyran Gilespie (Bayleys Beach), Jacob Rennie (Mairangi Bay) and Mark Gordon (United North Piha).

In a major effort in a remote area and very cold conditions which involved significant travel and coordination, the diver died and the exercise became focused on recovering the body.

Police afterwards were highly complimentary of the lifeguards’ efforts.

The other two clubs which are finalists for Rescue of the Year are Bethells Beach and Kariotahi (both west coast near Auckland).

A total of 17 clubs from the Far North to Raglan have members nominated for a wide variety of awards to be announced on July 14.

The awards cover both the sporting and lifeguard aspects of the movement, as well as officiating and volunteer contributions, and culminate with the awards for Rescue of the Year, Best Patrolled Beach and Club of the Year.

Surf clubs from the east coast beaches dominate the nominations in the Northern Region Awards of Excellence.

Mairangi Bay tops the list with 19 nominations, with O¯ rewa a whisker behind on 18, while Red Beach with 10 finalists completes the trifecta for east coast clubs.

Across

1. Sorting out splinter group colour (6)

4. A quiet argument at the front of the boat (4)

8. A long measure (6)

9. Plane makes a dive, possibly for SOS from POW

(6)

11. Reconcilers turn up something from the past (5) 12. Shed tears? (6)

15. Old Siamese elm unsettled the French girls (13) 17. It’s caused by a shortage of sulphide, Arthur (6) 19. Bagpipe noise from a worker (5)

21. The rod of heat (3,3)

23. This action will have grave consequences (6) 24. Said “About the fib. You can depend on it.” (4) 25. Known for his forgeries? (6)

Down

1. John Wayne’s religious settlers? (8)

2. Row ahead, which was irritating (7)

3. Funeral director? He was the last to arrive! (4,5) 5. Fight about the boat’s propulsion (3)

6. All there but maybe has a leak, we hear (5) 7. The dirt of the French street (4)

10. Father takes the last pool ball as cargo (7) 13. AKA “Dumpy Nose” (9)

14. Bless Amy in the gathering (8)

16. Beware of the view? (7)

18. Strange reed I found a duck in ........ (5)

20 . ...... it was part of a duck plant (4)

22. Grease paint (3)