The Eastern Bay was well represented at the National Surf Lifesaving Pool Rescue Competition in Auckland last weekend, returning with multiple placings.

Cathryn Rowland and Catriona Manning represented Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club in the masters divisions at the competition, held at the Sir Owen Glen National Pool, while Steve Williamson, Mere Edwards and Nicola Petersen represented Ōpōtiki Surf Life Saving Club in the same divisions.

Isla Williamson was Ōpōtiki’s first junior competitor at a pool event, competing in the under-12 division.

Pool rescue nationals is a unique event in sport. Competitors race to save manikins, swim under obstacles and put on their racing fins to simulate rescue scenarios they might encounter.

It attracts competitors ranging from under 11 years old to masters in their 60s and 70s.

Steve Williamson said it made for a busy warm-up with over 500 people in the pool.

The sport is growing, especially in the masters’ age groups with five heats of masters’ women and six heats of masters’ men keen to prove there are as fit, fast and capable in the pool as their younger counterparts.

Williamson said the competition at the top was tough.

Competing in the 50 to 54 years age group, he won the 100-metre manikin carry with fins, and finished second in the 100m obstacle, 50m manikin carry and 50m fins.

“Although I got a lot of second places, it was only because I was beaten by Australian visitor, Troy Racklyeft, an Australian champion who was there preparing for the world championships later in the year in South Africa and who managed to break a world record while he was there,” said Williamson.

“I can still claim to be the best New Zealander though.”

Isla, Williamson’s daughter, was nervous to be at her first national competition and although she did not do her best times, says she would like to compete again next season and do better.

She finished 22nd in the under-12 50m brick carry, 16th in the 50m swim with fins, 15th in the 50m rescue medley with brick and 18 in the Isla 50m obstacle race.

Petersen, competing at 24 weeks’ pregnant, lived up to Surf Lifesaving NZ’s motto “in it for life” and performed extremely well, providing an inspiration to women in the pool and on the deck.

She won her 30-34 years age group in the 100m manikin carry and with fins, the 100m obstacle, and the manikin tow with fins, the 50m manikin tow with fins and 50m fins, and was second in the 50m manikin carry.

Edwards was third in the 100m manikin carry with fins and fourth in the 50m manikin carry and 50m fins.

Petersen said: “The trip to Auckland seems far but we are, as a club, interested in funding and looking at the 2027 pathway for Nationals in Christchurch next year.

“We want to thank our club, our supporters, spectators and other competitors. It makes for a great weekend on the pool side, with personal bests being broken, club comradery growing and it’s great to be in the water, doing what we love and especially great to bring home some medals.”

Ōpōtiki finished seventh of the masters’ teams and 17th overall of the 33 New Zealand teams that competed.