Good results for Taranaki at nationals

More than 1300 senior level athletes from 48 surf clubs around the country contested this season’s TSB Surf Sports Nationals at Main Beach in Mount Maunganui at the weekend.

As has been the case for many seasons, first place was again claimed by Mount Maunganui (133 points), with Midway (Gisborne) in second place on 102 points followed by Omanu (Bay of Plenty) in third place, with 96 points.

East End finished top of the Taranaki clubs in fourth place with 89 competition points, while Fitzroy finished 17th (17 points) closely followed by Ōpunake in 18th place on 16 points.

New Plymouth Old Boys (Ōakura) fielding a small team of young competitors, ending the event with two points in 34th place.

Top performers for East End across individual and team events were multiple medallists Tara Shotter (10 medals), Nicola Godwin (5), Freya Stolte (5), Julia Padrutt (4), Bella Wansbrough (4), Mia Padrutt (3), Lucy North (3), Renae Pratt (2), Alexis Elemam (2) and Chelsea Gartner (2).

Among East End’s male competitors, the multiple medallists were Daniel Callebaut (8), Hunter Robinson (6), Zak Johnson (6), Oscar Rust (3), Logan Smith (3), Harry Whiting (3), Jack Scott (2) and Jack Mason (2).

Outstanding for Fitzroy was Joe Collins. Coming off a full season competing in the Nutri-grain Ironman surf series in Australia, Collins collected seven of Fitzroy’s team tally of 17 points on his own account, with a gold in the open men’s run-swimrun, a silver in the ironman and another silver in the surf-swim race.

He also teamed with Ben Mccallum to take out third place in the open men’s double ski event.

Fitzroy’s other multiple medallist was Charlize Duncan, who won gold in the Under 15 Women’s beach sprint as well as gold in the under-15 women’s beach flags.

Poppy Barnes also featured well in securing a gold in the under-17 women’s surf ski final.

Ōpunake’s usual strength in the beach events was once more reflected in their medal haul with a gold to Riley Grylls in the under-19 women’s beach flags. She also won silvers in both the Open Women’s beach sprint and the under-19 beach sprint.

Caro Olliver picked up a bronze in the under-19 women’s beach flags while Jordan Grylls nabbed a bronze in the open women’s beach flags.

Jeram Sinclair collected bronze in the under-19 men’s beach flags and Caleb Lawn took out a bronze medal in the open men’s beach flags.

Finally, Opunake’s open women’s beach relay team of Bella Pivac, Caro Olliver, Jordan Grylls and Riley Grylls combined to win gold.

Medallist for New Plymouth Old Boys was Darcy O’sullivan, who collected silver in the under-15 women’s 2km beach run.