Brilliant conditions have greeted the nearly 300 athletes competing in the 2017 Bay of Plenty Senior Championships at Omanu Beach today.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region sport manager Mark Inglis says the half metre swell has made the surf challenging enough to make racing just a little bit tricky for the competitors.

'Clubs from all around the Bay of Plenty are battling it out for top honours, plus we've got visitors from out of town competing this weekend.

'The senior championships is not only about local honours, but about keeping the athletes in the region primed for the nationals which are coming up in about three weekends' time down in Christchurch.”

Of the 300 athletes competing today, Mark estimates at least 200 of them will be heading to Christchurch for the New Zealand Surf life Saving Championships being hosted by New Brghton SLSC on March 16-19.

This year's Bay championships sees the individual events and IRB racing taking place today, with the water rescue and team events taking place tomorrow.

'We have also introduced an Under 14 age group into the Board Rescue and Tube Rescue events on Sunday so the younger athletes can compete alongside the seniors and see how experienced lifeguards compete.

'We've got 40 entered so that will give them a good lead in to Oceans 17, the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships, the following weekend.”

There are also 40 athletes entered into the Masters division.

To follow the live results visit http://liveresults.co.nz/sls or for more information visit Surf Life Saving NZ's website

Mariama Huria, 16, from Whakatane finishing the race.

Jim Casey from Papamoa finishing first in the masters male 90m beach sprint.


Alicia Wilson, 17, (centre), Libby Bradley, 18, (right) and Tessa Bradley, 16, (left) in the beach sprint.


Lewis Farr from Papamoa and Mitchell Urwin and Logan Marshall from Omanu.