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Christophers a cut above rivals in White Island race

By Steve Hepburn

Emma Christophers is first home in the swimming section. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN

Emma Christophers made a late decision to enter the White Island race.

A couple of days before the race on Saturday, the 15-year-old Kavanagh College pupil opted to enter the swimming section.

And it is a not an easy decision to make, as swimming out to White Island and back in the chilly sea water is no walk in the park.

But in the end it was a wise decision.

Christophers, from the St Clair club, recorded a time of one hour, 24 minutes which was the fastest swim ever recorded by a female and one of the best times of recent years.

The Warrington crew of (from left) Mark Hastie, Kayle Harris, Gerard McHoull and Ken McHoull work into the waves to finish the race.

Not far behind, and equally impressive, was Aiden Blair in second with Sam Todd, third and Sam Mann next.

St Clair surf lifesaving chairman Cam Burrow said the event had gone well and was a good start to the season.

A total of 83 entrants made the start line with the race starting at 2pm, rather than the usual 9am due to tides and conditions.

The wind picked up in the afternoon which made it testing for the return leg.

Sophie Matahaere reaches the sand to be the first paddleboarder home in the White Island race on Saturday.

First home overall was paddler Liam Chesney (19), of the Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, on a surf ski. He is a student at the University of Otago.

Chesney was about 10 minutes off the race record but the tough wind coming home meant a record was never likely.

Sophie Matehaere (14) was the first paddleboarder to finish.

Patrols at St Clair, St Kilda and Brighton are due to start next weekend.

This article originally appeared on the Surf Life Saving New Zealand website.

Dedicated volunteer Surf Lifeguards, officials, instructors, coaches and athletes have been named winners at Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Otago/Southland Awards of Excellence.

Southern Regional Manager Stu Bryce says there are so many volunteers working to make sure people get home safe after a day at the beach it is extremely tough to single out just a few.

“The Awards of Excellence are a great opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and say thank you.  But it is also worth remembering these people honoured are a reflection of the wonderful volunteers in our organisation.”

Lifeguards from Warrington, St Kilda, St Clair, Brighton, Kaka Point and Oreti Surf Life Saving Clubs make up the Otago/Southland group.

Award winners have been announced on the Southern Region’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/slsnzsouthernregion/ from Friday July 3 with the winners’ booklet released on Sunday July 5.

Lifeguard of the Year Jackson Aluesi, from St Clair Surf Life Saving Club, “has had a massive year”, Otago/Southland Club Development Officer Felix Cook says.

“Jackson participated in the surf first responder pilot programme, completed National Lifeguard School at the start of the season, is Head Regional Lifeguard at St Clair and was first on the scene at the January 24 search at St Clair for a missing 14-year-old.

“The search called upon his rescue diving skills and knowledge, that even the National Police Dive Squad were impressed with,” Felix says.

In addition to being a member of the Otago Search and Rescue Team Jackson is a patrol captain and instructor for both IRB and Surf Lifeguard training at St Clair.

The Volunteer of the Year title is Max Corboy from St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club.

“Max has been instrumental in the development of Search and Rescue operations in our region, fostering the Otago Search and Rescue Team into a highly skilled group that were called upon to perform the January 24 search at St Clair for a missing 14-year-old, along with numerous other incidents throughout the season.

“Max’s leadership and extensive knowledge, along with his ability to make critical decisions has made the difference between life and death on numerous occasions,” Felix says.

He is also a St Kilda club committee member, member of the Local Lifeguard Committee, event safety officer for local and regional events, and masterminded the Otago digital radio network that has enabled clear and reliable communications between the Dunedin clubs.

“That’s a massive undertaking by one person,” Felix says.

Surf Life Saving NZ Awards of Excellence are held every year in each SLSNZ region to recognise and celebrate the many club members putting in considerable time, effort and skills at a grass-roots level to make sure Kiwis who head to the beach get home safe.

The regional awards culminate in the National Awards of Excellence which will be held on September 19.

 

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Otago/Southland Awards of Excellence 2020 Winners

 

HONOURS AWARDS

Regional Service Award
Chris Haig – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club
Steph Laughton – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club
Alex Sutherland – Brighton Surf Life Saving Club

Distinguished Regional Service Award
Max Corboy – St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club
Cameron Third – St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club
Steph Laughton – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club

Life Membership
Seth McPhee – Brighton Surf Life Saving Club

 

SURF SPORTS AWARDS

Surf Official of the Year
Doug Henderson – Kaka Point Surf Life Saving Club

Event Guard of the Year
Jessica Craik – St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club

Coach of the Year
Mark Hastie – Warrington Surf Life Saving Club

Sports Team of the Year
Kaka Point Surf Life Saving Club U19 Male Canoe Team (Laytun Lornie, Morgan Greer, Lachlan Stoddart, Struan Campbell)

Sports Person of the Year
Sam Stedman – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club

 

GENERAL AWARDS

Innovation of the Year
Otago Search & Rescue Team - Use of drones, dye and diving equipment at the St Clair search

 

LIFESAVING AWARDS

Rookie Lifeguard of the Year
Nico Burton – Brighton Surf Life Saving Club

Rescue of the Year
Otago Search & Rescue Team – St Clair Search January 2020

Regional Lifeguard of the Year
Sarah McNaughton – Warrington Surf Life Saving Club

Beach Educator of the Year
Jody Mowat – St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club

Instructor of the Year
Sarah Ball – Oreti Surf Life Saving Club

Lifeguard of the Year
Jackson Aluesi – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club

Volunteer of the Year
Max Corboy – St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club

President’s Trophy (outstanding contribution to lifesaving)
Isaac Davies – St Clair Surf Life Saving Club

Patrol Club of the Year
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club

Club of the Year
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club