Ōrewa Surf Life Saving Club and near-neighbours Mairangi Bay SLSC dominated this year’s Surf Life Saving Northern Region Awards of Excellence, taking out 12 awards between them.

Ōrewa picked up seven trophies at the Toyota Financial Services-sponsored Awards and had 13 finalists this year, and also received two Service Awards, while Mairangi won five awards and had nine finalists.

Ōrewa’s wins included Examiner of the Year – Faron Turner, Instructor of the Year – Mark Johnston, Surf Official of the Year – Benny Larsen, Developing Surf Official – Belinda Langman, U-15 Sportswoman – Elizabeth Brennan, U-19 Sportsman – George Wenman and Open Sportsman – James Scott, while Belinda Langman and Zac Franich received Service Awards.

Mairangi Bay took out the Supreme Sport Award won by Danielle McKenzie, who also won the Open Sportswoman trophy, with the club also picking up Lifeguard of the Year – Daniel Short, Outstanding Contribution to Junior Surf – Peter Storey, and U-17 Sportswoman – Zoe Crawford.

Twelve clubs featured in the finals, with the wins spread out among 11 of those, Red Beach (13 finalists and four Awards), Bethells Beach (12 finalists and one winner) and Sunset Beach (five finalists and three wins) also standing out.

Muriwai was awarded Rescue of the Year for their efforts in rescuing residents in West Auckland trapped by rising floodwaters in August 2021. Other finalists were Karekare and Raglan for major rescues in late November and on Boxing Day 2021 respectively. (See separate story) Muriwai also picked up the award for Outstanding Contribution to Powercraft – Damian Molloy.

Innovation of the Year was won by Bethells Beach SLSC gear steward Dean Maddaford who developed an improved design for IRB trailers to avoid damage to the crafts’ engines when the IRBs were being loaded. Bethells also had another finalist in its Rookie Programme run by Paige Atkins, while Waipū Cove’s Beach Wheels Accessibility Project also made the finals. (See separate story).

Sunset Beach continued its dominance in a number of categories, again winning the Team of the Year with its Open Female IRB team of Taylor Shrimpton and Abi Chapman, while coach Shane Edwards – himself a finalist in the teams category with IRB team member and son Mark – picked up Coach of the Year, the fourth time he’s won the category.

Picking up the Volunteer of the Year trophy was Red Beach stalwart Harry Mellor while the club also won for Outstanding Contribution to Event Lifeguarding – Caleb Archer, U-17 Sportsman – Jasper Cornish and U-19 Sportswoman – Kate Roger.

Individual clubs picking up awards were United North Piha whose club member Grace Crimmins won Patrol Support of the Year, Ōmaha winning Junior Coach of the Year – Charlie Wood, Waipū winning Rookie of the Year for Laura Manning – whose parents Tim and Kath also received Service Awards, and Piha taking out the U15 Sportsman – Isaac Gear.

SLSNR 2022 beach safety messages:

1. Choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags

2. Ask a lifeguard for advice

3. Don't overestimate your ability

4. Keep young children within arm’s reach at all times

5. Never swim or surf alone

6. Watch out for rip currents, they can carry you away from shore

7. When fishing from rocks, always wear a lifejacket

8. If in doubt, stay out!

9. If you see someone in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police

10. Be sun smart – Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap.

In the 2021-22 season, SLSNR lifeguards:

• Committed 54,434 volunteer hours to beach patrols

• performed 405 rescues and 610 assists, carried out 147 major and 479 minor first-aid treatments, and 191 searches

• made 21293 safety interventions involving 133528 people

• held nine events with 1417 total participants

• qualified 207 new surf lifeguards and 28 new patrol supporters to join the movement

• trained 114 IRB crew members and 39 IRB drivers

• helped educate almost 3000 children in beach safety

After hours:

• SLSNR’s 18 Search and Rescue Squads were called to action 141 times, saving 70 lives, assisting 183, providing 24 first-aid interventions, and searching for 71 missing people

• SAR Squad members also did 1307 hours outside of patrol.

• SLSNR’s rescue communications centre SurfCom handled 426 incidents

• the Region’s Duty Officers attended 37 major incidents, while our team of Peer Supporters supported members involved in traumatic situations on 37 occasions.

SURF LIFE SAVING NORTHERN REGION TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2022 – WINNERS AND RECIPIENTS

Surf Sports Awards

• Outstanding Contribution to Junior Surf: Peter Storey – Mairangi Bay

• Junior Coach of the Year: Charlie Wood - Ōmaha

• Under 15 Sportswoman of The Year: Elizabeth Brennan - Ōrewa

• Under 15 Sportsman of The Year: Isaac Gear - Piha

• Under 17 Sportswoman of The Year: Zoe Crawford – Mairangi Bay

• Under 17 Sportsman of The Year: Jasper Cornish – Red Beach

• Under 19 Sportswoman of The Year: Kate Rogers – Red Beach

• Under 19 Sportsman of The Year: George Wenman - Ōrewa

• Surf Coach of The Year: Shane Edwards – Sunset Beach

• Competition Team of The Year: Sunset Beach Open Female IRB team (Taylor Shrimpton/Abi Chapman)

• Developing Surf Official of The Year: Belinda Langman - Ōrewa

• Surf Official of The Year: Benny Larsen - Ōrewa

• Outstanding Contribution to Event Lifeguarding: Caleb Archer – Red Beach

• Open Sports Female: Danielle McKenzie – Mairangi Bay

• Open Sports Male: James Scott – Ōrewa

• Supreme Sport Award: Danielle McKenzie – Mairangi Bay

Lifesaving Awards

• Instructor Of the Year: Mark Johnston – Ōrewa

• Examiner Of the Year: Faron Turner – Ōrewa

• Outstanding Contribution to Power Craft: Damian Molloy - Muriwai

• Rookie Lifeguard of the Year: Laura Manning – Waipū Cove

• Under 19 Surf Lifeguard of The Year: Jessika Wanden-Hannay - Karekare

• Patrol Support of the Year Award: Grace Crimmins – United North Piha

• Surf Lifeguard of the Year: Daniel Short – United North Piha/Mairangi Bay

• Volunteer of the Year: Harry Mellor (Red Beach)

• Toyota Financial Services Rescue of the Year: Muriwai (13 August 2021)

• Innovation of the Year: Dean Maddaford – IRB trailers (Bethells Beach)

Service Awards

• SLSNR Service Award recipients: Nigel Sorenson (Muriwai), Kath Manning (Waipū Cove), Evan Oxborrow (Whangārei Heads), Tim Manning (Waipū Cove), Rick Schreuder (Kariaotahi), Samantha Larson (Kariaotahi), Glenn Gowthorpe (Muriwai), Jacqui Peck (Piha), Wayne Sutton (Muriwai), Darrel Watt (Muriwai), Belinda Langman (Ōrewa), Luke Stockman (Muriwai), Maddison Hare (Kariaotahi), Zac Franich (Ōrewa), Brad Laloli (Piha), Shannon Benterman (Kariaotahi), Steve Sumner (Muriwai), David Galuszka (Raglan), Bryan Pearce (Muriwai)

• Distinguished Service Award: Angela Stolwerk (Waipū), Talia Comp (Bethells), Daniel Harvey (Bethells), Donal Dray-Hogg (Bethells)

• Life Memberships: David Godfrey (Muriwai), Mason Dray-Hogg (Bethells), Ian Godfrey (Waipū Cove), Lindsay Hill (Whangārei Heads), Rob Howes and Nicky Howes (both Whangārei Heads).

Other awards

• Yamaha 2021 Club Of The Year Award:

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