Whakatāne Intermediate School showcased outstanding performances across two action-packed days in Gisborne at the annual Battle of the Bays competition.

This event includes two demanding challenges: day one is a surf life-saving competition, and day two features a triathlon.

On the first day, 20 students represented Whakatāne Intermediate in the surf lifesaving held at Midway Surf Club.

Competing against 11 intermediate schools from the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay regions, the team continued the school’s tradition of success.

The beach flag event saw Liam Lawrence emerge as a star performer, narrowly finishing second in the Year 7 boys’ category after over 20 sprints and a dual run-off for the top two positions.

In the Year 7 girls’ division, Aaliyah Sexton claimed third, demonstrating her agility and determination as she dove for the flags.

Other notable performances included Alaska Roper and Flynn Watkins (both fifth), Dallas Schwencke and Mia Hyndman (both ninth).

The team also shone in the beach sprint relay, with the Year 7 girls taking first place, the Year 7 boys finishing second, and both Year 8 teams earning third-place finishes.

In the board-run relay, the Year 8 boys secured third place, the Year 7 boys took fourth, and both the Year 7 and Year 8 girls teams placed third in their respective events.

In the swim-run relay, the Year 8 boys continued their fine form to finish a credible third, with the remaining teams from Whakatāne Intermediate placing in the top 5 for their categories.

By the end of day 1, the Year 7 girls’ and Year 8 boys’ teams had both placed third overall in their categories, contributing to the school best finish overall in the school rankings, behind Gisborne Intermediate and Mount Maunganui Intermediate.

The second day saw the spotlight shift to the triathlon, where Harper Thompson delivered a stunning performance to claim silver in the Year 8 boys.

Mimicking Olympic medallist Hayden Wilde, Harper started the race mid-pack after the swim but powered into the lead during the bike leg. Despite being overtaken in the final stages of the run, he crossed the line in a well-deserved second place.

Thea Miller and Zoe Williams also performed admirably, finishing in the top 10 of their respective events and further showcasing the school’s athletic depth and determination.

“The kids did an incredible job across both days, displaying resilience and determination throughout the competition,” said the teacher in charge of the team, Will Doney.

“Our surf club athletes performed brilliantly, and it was amazing to see our triathletes rise to the challenge, particularly Harper Thompson, whose performance on the bike was outstanding.

“It's also a testament to our local community for our school to be able to compete at such a high level, with special acknowledgement to the Whakatāne Surf Life-saving Club for developing such resilient and capable athletes."