Surf lifesaving can be as fickle as the swell – one moment up, the next crashing down. Sunday was like that for the troupe of junior athletes from Papamoa who had hoped to reclaim the NZ under 14 Ocean Athletes title they had held for the past three years.
Sunday’s tsunami warning and subsequent Civil Defence alert put paid to that – drowning the hopes of hundreds of youngsters from around the country.
Papamoa juniors Ben Johnson, Daniel Edwards and Danny Hart take centre stage as winners in the U14 board relay at last weekend’s Ocean Athletes event at the Mount. They are flanked by Omanu and Mount second and third place getters.
By day’s end, Lyall Bay was awarded the trophy for 2010 – points accumulated to the end of Saturday the only viable way of gauging a winner. At that point Papamoa and Omanu were tied on 28 – just nine points behind Lyall Bay.
The two local clubs were awarded runner up glory. But by the time, most kids had gone home, and only club managers were still on the beach, Papamoa was handed some news that gave some consolation to the day.
Papamoa was named New Zealand Ocean Athletes junior club of the decade. It’s a major coup for the club – one of the youngest in the country – and a credit to all Papamoa’s lifeguards who started out as nippers and moved through the age groupings to eventually qualify as lifeguards at 14.
Some have gone on to claim national glory in the U16, U19 and senior ranks. Others have gone on to pursue successful careers and other sporting accolades – thanks to the great training and personal development that surf lifesaving gives them.
The junior club of the decade award not only recognises this year’s crop of juniors at Papamoa, but also acknowledges the dedication of past junior title holders who helped make this award possible.