Sign In / Register
Nine Omaha junior lifeguards competed.
Omaha Beach Surf Lifesaving Club lifeguards concluded their final season as juniors on a high note at a national competition in Mount Maunganui last month.
A total of 849 junior lifeguards from 47 clubs around the country competed at the Oceans ’21 surf lifesaving nationals.
Omaha’s Jackson Whitaker kept up the momentum of a stellar season, claiming the title of NZ U14 male beach flags champion. He also finished third in the U14 beach sprint.
Clubmates Fraser Walker and Oliver Gipps also qualified for the U13 surf race final.
They were set to compete on the “super Sunday” finals day when lockdown came into effect and the event was cut short.
Coach Rohan Whitaker says it was the last Oceans nationals for the five of Omaha’s juniors.
Jackson and Miriama Iversen qualified as lifeguards when they sat and passed their theory and practical exams three weeks ago.
Isabella Gipps, Max Matthews and Tom Butler will also be eligible to sit the exam when they turn 14 this year.
“They will all be helping patrol the beach and competing as seniors next season,” coach Whitaker says.
Meanwhile, the Omaha Club was to send a team of seven seniors and one master to Ohope Beach for the senior TSB NZ Surf Life Saving Championships on March 11 before it was cancelled.
