Lifeguards take on waves and rescue

More than 40 lifeguards from around the region took part in the Surf Life Saving

Longboard Competition hosted at Mangawhai Heads over the weekend.
Due to the storm that hit Northland on Saturday the competition was postponed to Sunday.

“After the awful weather on Saturday we were stoked when we woke up on Sunday to a sunny day with perfect 3-foot waves for the competition,” Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service president Peter McInnes said.

Northland lifeguards dominated the competition with every first place won by lifeguards from either Mangawhai Heads or neighbouring clubs Omaha and Ruakaka. Further excitement was added to the weekend when an after hours rescue took place after a boat hit Headrock and began to sink at 4am on Sunday. Mangawhai Lifeguards responded in rescue boats, with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter providing lighting with its ‘night-sun’.

“The rescued boaties should thank their lucky stars that we were there – it was a dire situation,” Pete said. “Our clubs may be competing for trophies when it comes to surfing but when it comes to rescues we’re all on the same side. Big thanks to all the guys that helped out with the rescue.”

Competition results:
Open – Zane Baker (Mangawhai Heads) 1; Tony Baker (MHeads) 2; Dean Storey (MHeads) 3. Classic (pre-1970 surfboards) – Rhys Powell (Omaha) 1, Dean Storey (MHeads) 2, Oscar Parks (Karekare) 3. Masters (30+) – Simon Bennett (MHeads) 1, Graham Darlow (MHeads) 2, John Skirrow (Muriwai) 3. Women’s – Jess Costello (MHeads) 1, Amber Presterguard (Muriwai) 2, Alana Thrasyvoulou (MHeads) 3. Junior (under 18) – Kyle Taylor (Ruakaka) 1, Tim Gibb (MHeads) 2, Ari Tidyman (MHeads) 3.


Top: Division winners 09, from left, Rhys Powell, Kyle Taylor, Simon Bennett, Zane Baker and Jess Costello.

Bottom: Classic finalists, from left, Oscar Parks, Dean Storey, Rhys Powell and Joe Moohan.