Papamoa continued its wave of success this season – coming second overall at the surf lifesaving national championships at Ohope at the weekend, beaten only by arch rivals Mount Maunganui.
The club’s core group of under 16 athletes brought home the bulk of the medals – Natalie Peat taking the cream Diamond Lady title and combining with Kathryn Stewart and Kahleia Josephson took gold in board relay.
Peat won gold again in the surf teams’ race alongside Michaela Aitken, Jordyn Gregory and Rebecca Parkes, while under 16 women also won several silvers in other events to bolster the club’s tally.
Hayden Halse, Danny Kayes, Jackson Edwards and Mason Pickering shone in under 16 men – Halse coming second in the coveted Ironman event; Halse, Kayes, Edwards and Pickering winning the surf teams race and Kayes and Edwards winning gold in board rescue. Kayes teamed with Edwards and Seth Merrett to take silver in board relay, followed in third place by Halse, Ross Cowdrey and Hamish Smith.
Kodi Harman won gold in beach sprints and silver in beach flags – Kayes hot on his heels in third. Kayes was busy at the weekend, stepping up a notch when teaming with Blair Dunn, James Ryan and Brad Wilson to win the open men’s surf teams’ race.
A string of medals in U19 men and women in beach, surf boat and canoe pushed Papamoa to a final tally of 75 points, behind the Mount on 108. It was a fantastic effort for Papamoa and probably surprised some of the country’s elite clubs who had to be content with lower placings. Mairangi Bay was third on 62 points.