Surf lifesaving's current stars will rub shoulders with the best
juniors in the country at this week's Oceans 12 under-14 New
Zealand championships in Mount Maunganui.
The four-day carnival starts on Thursday, with more than 700
athletes from 41 clubs competing.
But the bonus for the juniors is the chance to watch New
Zealand's top ironmen and women competing in the final of the Sonic
Race Series on Saturday.
The finalist spots were only decided on Sunday after the
Northern and Southern Regional championships and Red Beach athletes
dominate the ironman final field, with AJ Maney qualifying first,
Dylan French second-equal and Jared Pouwhare sixth.
Other top contenders include Midway 17-year-old Cory Taylor, his
experienced clubmate Matt Sutton and veteran New Plymouth Old Boys
ironman Glenn Anderson.
Mairangi Bay's Madison Boon capped a rewarding summer by leading
qualifying for the ironwoman race, with Papamoa teenager Natalie
Peat second and another 17-year-old, Mairangi Bay triathlete
Danielle McKenzie third.
There will be four Mount Maunganui females racing on their home
beach, headed by the club's French star Emmanuelle Bescheron,
teenagers Jess Miller and Katie Wilson, and former New Zealand
representative Johanna O'Connor.
Papamoa, meanwhile, will be looking to reclaim sole possession
of the overall Oceans club title after sharing the spoils with Red
Beach last year.
Papamoa trailed Red Beach by four points heading into the final
two events but picked up a second in the under-12 Cameron relay and
a fighting third in the under-14 Cameron relay to draw level.
Last year's carnival had everything, from huge early surf and
white-hot beach action, to ideal half-metre swells on the final
day.
Sonic Race series qualifiers:
Ironmen: AJ Maney (Red Beach) 27 pts 1, Cory
Taylor (Midway), Dylan French (Red Beach) 25 2=, Glenn Anderson
(New Plymouth Old Boys) 21 4, Matt Sutton (Midway) 17 5, Jared
Pouwhare (Red Beach) 15 6, Andrew Newton (Mount Maunganui) 14 7,
Tyler Maxwell (Lyall Bay) 12 8, Hamish Beattie (Westshore) 9 9.
Ironwomen: Madison Boon (Mairangi Bay) 39 1,
Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 32 2, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 21 3,
Emmanuelle Bescheron (Mount Maunganui), Caitlin Ryan (Red Beach) 11
4=,, Jess Miller (Mount Maunganui), Katie Wilson (Mount Maunganui)
11 6=, Johanna O'Connor (Mount Maunganui) 8 9.
