2025 AON New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championship

16 Mar

What a brilliant time our clubbies had in the boat and main arena at the 2025 AON New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championship last week at Midway SLSC.

There were so many highlights including: our U15’s experiencing their first races at national level (having never competed at Oceans); our stalwart Masters winning Gold in the canoe; and our outstanding boat program proving its depth by winning the overall top boat club award.

Dean Isherwood, our world champion sweep, demonstrated his endurance, focus and skill by completing 36 long and short course surf boat races all in one day at Nationals. He was sweep for our Open Men and Women, U23 Women and Men and the U19 Men. His medal haul from Nationals included 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze, plus he played an integral role in our 'top boat club' status.

Our Open Men Surf Boat team, affectionately known as ‘The Bangas’, ended the season with a BANG taking out double gold for short and long course. According to our life member Mike Kindred the last time this happened for our men was in 1964! What an achievement.

The HeeBeeGeeBees, our U19 Female Surf Boat Team, under the tutelage of the legendary Logan, came away with a well deserved gold and silver. Great work building on last years results.

Our U19 Men Surf Boat Team were all competing at their first Nationals and learnt so much coming away with a gold and silver. We can't wait to see what you do in 2026 Max, Dan, Harry and Lachlan. Dan also got through to the Semi's in the U17 Beach Sprints and Max was 11th equal in U17 beach flags.

The EMCC lived up to their billing on and off the water with a gold medal performance in the masters Canoe and award winning support for our age group competitors in the main arena.

We continued our progress in the main arena with our U15 and U17 competitors performing strongly with a few highlights to follow. Corby (U17) found success with a 9th= in Beach Flags, advancing to semi's for ski and iron plus he was first out of the water on the ski leg of the team Taplin. Amelia flew the flag for New Brighton in the U17 female arena achieving 15th in Beach Flags and advancing to semi's for Board and Ski.

Liam made the final for the Run-Swim-Run in his first nationals. Lachlan advanced to the semi in the board race. Campbell showed his grit and flexed his muscle in the tube and board rescue events. The development over the last two seasons has been incredible for these very new competitors and we encourage everyone who trains to represent the Club and experience Nationals - it is the absolute pinnacle event on the surf calendar.

Angus, Harry, Jesse and Lachlan took Silver in the Surf Boat Long Course (U23 Male) with Dean as sweep.

The Boomfas competed in the Open and U23 Female divisions for both Short and Long Course. They came away with two Bronze Medals for Open Female Short and Long Course.

Thank you to the supporters, sponsors, coaches, managers, officials and our great committee. A special shout out to: EMCC, Douglas McIntrye, Cameron Penrose, Gareth Allison, Matt Wright, Matt Nash, Lachlan Hill, Mike Kindred and Steve Bensemen for your ongoing commitment and support to the growth of our club in a million different ways that others may not see.

As always in surf top 6 placings earn the club points and we recognise that success below:

GOLD:

Canoe Short Course (160-199 Masters Male) ‘EMCC’ – Andrew Cain, Chris Buckley, Chris Gordon and Stu Bryce
Surf Boat Short Course (U19 Female) ‘HeeBeeGeeBees’ - Alex Carmichael, Kate Galletly, Tara Penrose, Taylor Stirling and sweep Logan Penrose.
Surf Boat Long Course (U19 Male) ‘Oar Breakers’ - Daniel Flaszynski, Harry Cournane, Lachlan Grant, Max Dillon-Roberts and sweep Dean Isherwood.
Surf Boat Short Course and Long Course (Open Male) ‘The Bangas’ Lachie Hill, Noah Cromack, Sergio Schuler, Zane Sweetman and sweep Dean Isherwood.

SILVER:

Surf Boat Short Course (U19 Male) ‘Oar Breakers’
Surf Boat Long Course (U19 Female) ‘HeeBeeGeeBees’
Surf Boat Long Course (U23 Male) – ‘Baddies’ Angus McEwan, Harry Cournane, Jesse McClimont, Lachlan Grant and sweep Dean Isherwood

BRONZE:

Surf Boat Short Course and Long Course (Open Female) – ‘The Boomfas’ Caitlin Knudsen, Hannah Western, Grace Western Joanna Penrose and sweep Dean Isherwood.

FOURTH: