Flying start to Oceans

Lucy Makaea made the perfect start to Oceans 15 yesterday, but the Orewa surf lifesaver hopes to build on her golden haul during the next three days of the New Zealand under-14 championships.

Makaea showed her versatility by winning both the under-14 beach flags and run-swim-run titles on the opening day in Mount Maunganui.


Lucy Makaea (front left) on her way to beach flag success, the first of two opening-day gold medals at the Oceans 15 New Zealand under-14 surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

It's the first time she's claimed that particular double, although last year she won the beach sprint and the run-swim-run and in 2012, claimed the diamond race, flags and board race.

'Last year I bombed out in the flags and got 12th,” says the Avondale College student. 'I just had the wrong mind-set and was thinking really negatively, but this year was heaps better.

'I really want gold in the diamond race - this is my last year and I want to go out with a bang.”

The talented teen saw off good friend and rival Sophie Hildesley (Red Beach) and Bethells Beach's Brooke Whiu in the flags, while Alaynah Bettany (Lyall Bay) was second in the run-swim-run and Makaea's teammate Eve Thomas, in her first year of surf lifesaving, was third.


Diamond Race Heats at the Oceans 15 event. Video: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

However, Makaea wasn't alone in her spectacular deeds. Astaria Te Aukura - who answers to 'Star” - lived up to her name in the under-12 ranks, with the Mairangi Bay youngster taking out both finals on the sand and in the water.

The gold medals were spread far and wide on the first day, with Wellington pair Sam Brown (Maranui) and Ella Court (Worser Bay) taking out the under-11 boys run-swim-run and girls beach flags respectively.

Elsewhere, Taranaki surf rookie Slade Bristowe (East End) blazed to victory in the under-14 boys beach flags.

Hawke's Bay's Mahina Ross (Westshore) took home gold in the under-11 girls run-swim-run, while Wainui's Saffi Vette claimed Gisborne's only opening-day gold in the under-13 girls flags.

Red Beach pair Angus Henare (under-12 flags) and Jonathon Selman (under-13 run-swim-run) helped their club share the overall lead with Orewa, on 11 points, but elsewhere it was the local clubs that dominated.

Mitchell Irwin led home a memorable Omanu treble in the under-13 flags, heading off clubmates Colby Brennan and Thomas Friskney, while Blake West (Papamoa) won the under-11 flags.

Mount Maunganui swimmers Lochlainn O'Connor (under-14 boys), Isabella Akroyd (under-13 girls) and Daniel Shanahan (under-12 boys) each won titles, helping the host club to second-equal with Papamoa.

Today's action sees athletes compete in both the board race and diamond out in the water while back on the beach arena there will be plenty of action in the sprints and mixed relays.

Points (after first day): Red Beach and Orewa 11, Papamoa and Mount Maunganui 10, Omanu 8, Mairangi Bay 6, Maranui 5, Waikanae, Westshore and Lyall Bay 4, East End, Worser Bay and Wainui 3, Taylors Mistake, Piha, St Clair, Fitzroy, Whakatane and Otaki 2.

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