10th consecutive Owen Chapman Cup win for club

With its strengths across all divisions of competition, Red Beach retained the Owen Chapman Cup by one of the biggest winning margins ever seen. The points tally of 216 was well clear of the second and third placed clubs on 98 & 72 points respectively.

It was the 58th year of the event and the club claimed the trophy for the 10th consecutive time, making it a trio of 10 consecutive wins since it was first contested in 1957.  The event is the longest-running club day in Australasia for surf athletes.

Kiwi internationals were among a near record 426 competitors. Last year’s turnout was 437 entrants, however, that included 36 surf athletes from the visiting Australian branch teams of Central Coast and NSW Country.

Perfect weather set the scene for some intense competition. Many of the surf athletes taking part were from the country’s top echelon of competitors; NZ representatives in the sport were well represented on the day.

A total of 18 clubs took part – all from the North Island - with the most southern club coming from Wellington’s Titahi Bay. All clubs were eligible to take out the Jubilee Cup which was being contested for just the second time. It was won by Red Beach ahead of Mt Maunganui. The Owen Chapman Cup can only be won by a Northern Region club.

Red Beach’s Rachel Clarke was the stand-out female athlete, winning the Ironwoman, surf race and surf ski events in the open division. She also shared in three team wins …. the Taplin relay, ski relay and board relay to claim six wins on the day.

NZ surf representative and Olympian Steven Kent (Titahi Bay) won the open surf race for the second consecutive year. He also won it in 2011. Titahi clubmate Martin McDowall won the open ski race by a clear margin ahead of some highly fancied ski paddlers.

Natalie Peat (Papamoa) won both the U19 Ironwoman and surf race events. Mt Maunganui’s talented Kane Sefton won both the U16 Ironman and surf race.
Piha’s Steven Ferguson snared the open Ironman event and swam home second to Kent in the surf race.

In the boat & canoe arena, the Red Beach Pirates surf boat crew won both the open and U23 divisions in racing.

For the full set of Owen Chapman Cup results, click here
The last eight competitors in the U19 men's beach flags event.
The start of the U16 men's ski race final.
Racing in the open men's surf boat division.            Photos by Ross Malyon.              Click on an image to enlarge it.