Red Beach JuniorSurf members have returned from the NZ Under-14 Ocean Athlete Championships with a haul of nine medals.
A total of 42 clubs competed over the three days of the event which was held at Mt Maunganui. Red Beach emerged in sixth place overall and as top club in the northern region.
Talented youngster Laura Marlow collected two gold medals following wins in the 10 year old Beach Flags and Beach Sprint events.
In the Beach Flags event for 10 year old boys, Matthew Keenan proved too speedy for the opposition and snared a gold medal.
And Alexis Sadgrove picked up Red Beach’s fourth gold when she came home first in the Beach Sprint final for 11 year old girls.
A fifth gold medal was won by the 10 year old mixed beach relay team.
Meanwhile, Steen Lemon placed second in the 12 year old boys Beach Sprint to claim a silver medal. He also collected a bronze when Red Beach came home third in the 12 year old mixed beach relay. And Jordan Downey also took out a bronze medal for his third placing in the 10 year old boys Beach Sprint.
Another silver medal was picked up by the 11 year old mixed beach relay team.
“The Papamoa and Mt Maunganui clubs used their local knowledge to take out first and second places on overall points in demanding surf conditions,” said Red Beach JuniorSurf coach Chris Barnao.
“Not only were there some big waves out the back, the shore break was vicious. You should see the grazes on my chest from being driven into the bottom whilst body surfing. The kids really got smashed around,” he added.
Red Beach had 51 competitors aged from 10-14 years at Ocean Athletes. Included in this figure were five 9 year olds who competed in the 10 year old age group and performed very well.