Sunset Beach Surf Boat Crews take National Titles at the 2017 TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships

Sunset Beach Surf Boat Crews take National Titles at the  2017 TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships held in Christchurch at New Brighton Beach, 17th - 19th March 2017

The Sunset Young Guns had superb conditions and weather at New Brighton to compete for the U19 Men’s Surf Boat Short Course and Long Course Titles. Having already earned the U19 Men’s NZ Surf Boat Series Gold Medal, they were hopeful to do well at Nationals.  The Sunset Hipsters were hot on their tales with Silver Medal for the U19 Men’s NZ Surf Boat Series.

The two teams from Sunset Beach have had an excellent year, trained hard and put in the hours on the Waikato River at Tuakau.  Their results at the Championships were outstanding.

The Sunset Young Guns are now the NZ U19 Men’s Surf Boat Champions. They performed well over their 5 races for each event and were awarded Gold medal for the Short Course and Gold for the Long Course.  The Sunset Hipsters chased hard and were awarded Silver medal in both the Short and Long Course events.  This made it a clean sweep for the Sunset Beach crews.

Ted Marsh (Coach and Sweep for the Young Guns) was immensely proud, “We had quite a bit of nerves going into Nationals.  It’s taken 5 years of dedication from this young team who started rowing at 14 years old to get to this standard to win the Gold Medals.  Last year we settled for Silver but were determined that wasn’t going to happen this year.  The wins were popular with the crowd with most of the boaties present at the ceremony having watched this team improve over the years.  A huge cheer went up, congratulating them on their win”.

The Sunset Hipsters with Mikey Waldegrave as Sweep had an excellent performance to earn the silver medals.  This being only their second year of rowing, we figure there must be a good amount of friendly rivalry between these two teams to enhance performance to do well.

Picture:  Sunset Young Guns on the podiem in first place with Sunset Hipsters in second

North Island BP Surf Rescue Champions

Sunset Beach Lifeguards Defended their title for Top Club.  Tough day out... with 87 points for Sunset and 71 points for Papamoa, Sunset Beach retained their North Island BP Surf Rescue Champions Title.  The annual event drew in 144 entries in the form of 63 crews from 12 different clubs around the country, including locals East End, Fitzroy, New Plymouth Old Boys and Opunake.  In flat conditions but some tough starting positions, Sunset earned 6 gold medals, 4 silver medals, 1 bronze medal. These were spread across U21 Men, Women, Open Men’s and Premier grades.

Taylor Shrimpton and crewman Jemima Ferrier won all their races, 3 Gold medals and were most consistent of the 11 women’s crews competing on the day.

Brothers Shane and Mark Edwards with patient Samantha-Jane Harding earned Gold in the final of the Premier men’s Assembly Rescue final taking on the elite of IRB racing.  Lewis Powell and Shane Edwards then combined to win Gold in the Tube Rescue for the Premier Men’s final after Mark Edwards was injured.

Senior Men’s team won gold in the Senior Men’s Tube Rescue (Jacob Pullen, Joshua Andrews and S J Harding) and with two Silver Medals were a real threat to some seasoned racers in their events.

In the U21 Men’s we had two teams competing.  Judd Redmond, Jhett Hunt, (Patients: Olis Fruh, SJ Harding, Carla Janse Van Resburg) won Silver in the Mass rescue.    Both teams have promise for the NZ Champs early April.

“It’s really great, we are feeling really good because it was touch and go for a while, with Papamoa right on our tails, so that kept us honest and working hard”, Shane Edwards.

Hard day at the office with Single Resues finals being cancelled for the day due to low tide.  Crews now have six weeks to build up to the 2017 BP Surf Rescue New Zealand Championships which are set to be held at Waipu Cove in Northland from April 1-2.

"We're sure to see these, and other crews from around the country, battle it out to become New Zealand's top IRB club," Event Manager, Todd Velvin

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Sunset Beach U19 Surf Boat Crew - North Island Champions

Trust Waikato Sunset Beach Lifeguard's had 2 x U19 Men's Surf Boat crews competing at the North Island Surf Boat Champs held at Waihi Beach 5th and 6th February. The Sunset Young Guns won the Gold Medal and are now the U19 North Island Champs. This was also part of the NZ Surf Boat Series so the win assured them of Gold Medal for the NZ Surf Boat Series. With Piha Big Wave to go in two weeks time on the 18th February, the Sunset Hipsters have to wait and compete to retain 2nd position in the series. Day two was the NZ Regional Surf Boat Challenge. Four regions competed for the trophy with Sunset Young Guns representing Northern Region U19 mens and Sunset Hipsters rowing for the Central Region. Northern Region retained their title winning gold and the trophy. Central Region were 4th.

Champion of Champions was then held with 24 teams competing for a position in the A, B and C grade final. Sunset Young Guns and Sunset Hipsters made the A grade final. The Sunset Young Guns with some awesome rowing came 2nd overall and Sunset Hipsters 5th. This was competing against senior teams.

Ted Marsh was proud of the performance of the teams. "Good performance all round by the Sunset Young Guns and Sunset Hipsters. Sunset Young Guns holding onto their NZ Title in the NZ Surf boat series and Hipsters in second place till Piha Big wave is testament to how these guys are rowing". "They represented their Regions well and have a huge respect amongst the senior teams as up and coming rowers. Sunset Beach can be proud of these young men!"

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"Golden Day" for Sunset Beach - Northern Region IRB Champs

Sunset Beach retained their title on January 14th 2017 with 8 teams competing. Loads of photos to check out... everyone was busy and conditions were flat and great for some close finishing. Thank you to the officials at the event today and the supporters who came along to watch. 13 Golds 6 Silver 5 Bronze There were 13 gold medals available and Sunset won them all.  Click on this link to go to our facebook page for more photos...

Toyota Financial Services Sponsors New Rescue Vehicle

Trust Waikato Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service
Celebrating Success

On Saturday 10th December, our club had an opportunity to celebrate the success of the past season as the ‘Top Club’ in New Zealand for Surf Rescue (Inflatable rescue boats) and also the success of our U19 Surf Boat Crews at National Level.

Having just been sponsored by Toyota Financial Services a new multipurpose rescue vehicle, we invited Chris Stark, Marketing & Insurance Manager for Toyota Financial Services and Waikato District Councilor, Jacqui Church to an event held to acknowledge this sponsorship and launch the rescue vehicle to the public.  Trust Waikato Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service are very appreciative of this 3 year sponsorship and the support that goes with itThe season last year for us was huge.  The club had major success as a small club competing against the giants of Surf Life Saving clubs in New Zealand and we would like to acknowledge their success and the heart from which our club operates. 

We have shifted the communications tower twice in one year, the decision to retreat by the council and the erosion problems are something our lifeguards deal with every weekend and acknowledge the communities awareness and support.  Our president Malcolm Beattie has also been recently elected as President of the Northern Region Surf Life Saving. We are sure the Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service and the Northern Region is in good hands going forward.  Click on this link to go to our facebook page for more photos...

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