Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club's junior surf athletes took out the title of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's Eastern Region Junior Champions at Waihi Beach over the weekend.

With less than 50 athletes, Whangamata finished on 103 points and took the top spot from reigning champions Omanu Beach who finished second, while Mount Maunganui placed third.

While it was an overall team performance, Whangamata's Finn Freemantle and Eden Wood produced some top racing in the Under 8 age category with both either winning or placing in all of their individual events.

This year's Eastern Region Junior Championships, which caters for younger athletes aged 7-14, drew in over 600 athletes from 22 different Surf Life Saving Clubs around the North Island.

SLSNZ Eastern Region sport manager Mark Inglis says Saturday was a very testing day of racing with the combination of a solid 1.5m swell pushing the high tide right up on to the beach near the dunes.

'This saw us having to change the programme completely. We were very appreciative of the clubs, athletes, managers, coaches and parents who worked with us to get through all of the events that we possibly could, given the conditions.”

The second day of racing on Sunday saw a change to near-perfect conditions with a half metre swell and offshore winds for the U11-U14 age groups to finish their remaining events.

'As with all surf sports events, we are at the mercy of the conditions on the day so we're very grateful for everyone's patience and for the help of our officials, water safety crew and volunteers for ensuring that the event ran smoothly.”

This year a new Club Spirit and Attitude Award was voted on by the officials and was awarded to Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club for their athletes' conduct and cheerful disposition during the event.

This year's event attracted competition from the Central Region including Hawke's Bay's Westshore and Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Clubs and Taranaki's East End, Fitzroy and New Plymouth Old Boys, plus Northern Region Clubs Mairangi Bay, Bethells Beach, Muriwai, Red Beach and Orewa.

Mark says it was particularly great to see the efforts made by the out of region clubs who travelled to take part this weekend.

'We hope it provided them with a great opportunity to test their skills ahead of the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (Oceans '17) which will take place at Mt Maunganui in a couple of weeks.”

For the full Eastern Region Junior Championship results visit Surf Life Saving New Zealand's website.

Photo: SLSNZ