PHOTOS: BOP Junior Championships

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Just under 400 junior lifesavers between the ages of eight and 14 are competing at the Bay of Plenty Junior Championships today.

The juniors are competing on both sand and water in an array of events that includes beach sprints, surf races, and board relays down at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach.


Two junior lifeguards going head to head at today's Bay of Plenty Junior Championships being held down at Mount Maunganui's main beach today. Photos: Cameron Avery

The day started off rather bleakly this morning but the sun has burst through the clouds and it's turned out to be a scorcher of an afternoon.

Surf Lifesaving NZ Eastern region sport manager Scott Bicknell says it's been an awesome day of competition so far and the future of lifeguarding is looking very bright.

'The morning went really well and there was some fierce competition out there,” says Scott. 'The three big clubs, Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Papamoa, they have all done really well.”

'There has also been good results from Whakatane, Whangamata and Waihi who are slightly smaller clubs but have come through strong and are punching well above their weight.”

Scott says all of the beach events took place this morning and the rest of the afternoon will see the junior lifeguards competing on the water for the paddle board, relay, tube and board rescue events.

While the surf is not very big for the young lifeguards it can prove to be a bit challenging, he says.

'The under nine side of the competition is all wrapped up and they're all chilling out now on the beach eating icecreams.

'The older kids are now in the thick of it, we're getting into our rhythm and will probably get through it pretty quickly.”

This is the only junior club competition held at on Mount Maunganui Main Beach prior to the Eastern Region Junior Championships and 2015 U14 New Zealand Championships.

It is the second year the event has been held and feedback from competitors and their clubs this year have been hugely positive.

While the main focus is to have fun, but the event also aims to create 'better, more skilled experienced lifeguards and to retain them,” says Scott.

'This is kind of a pre-season event but there'sa whole stash of trophies and medals for the winning.

'It is very competitive and there's definitely bragging rights up for grabs, especially between the three bigger clubs who're fighting for top club.”

Scott would like to give a huge thank you to the Mount Maunganui Lifesaving Club's support for today's event.

Many of the club's senior athletes competed in yesterday's Mount Monster event, he says.

'Those athletes have come down today to be our starters, marshals, and are out on the water providing event safety. The whole club gets in behind and it's really exceptional,” says Scott.

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