Rufus Dempsey

The 2026 AON New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships wrapped up on Sunday at Ōhope Beach.

The four-day event attracted close to 1400 athletes from 46 surf lifesaving clubs around the country to compete in 25 different events split over five different age group categories.

More than 130 gold medals were handed out this year to new national champions, with the overall winning club this year being Omanu SLSC, followed by East End SLSC in second and Mairangi Bay SLSC, coming in third.

Ōpōtiki lifeguards punched above their weight in the masters, with medals bagged by both men’s and women’s teams representing the Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club.

Local lifeguard Steve Williamson competed in the masters and open categories and considered the event a success, not just for the Ōpōtiki club, but the sport as a whole.

“The weather was amazing, however, the waves were small, which meant for less action and more grunt power.

“We started on Thursday with a packed masters’ programme. The water events were first with me, Hamish, Flyn and Nicola competing in the surf swim race and board races.

“Hamish, Flyn and I then did the surf swim teams race and got a bronze medal. Nicola gained send in the surf swim race.

“We then moved to the canoe arena where the men did three rounds and narrowly missed out on a final due to an unlucky trip at the finish line by our runner.

“The women did one race, but the points gained were enough for a bronze. Nicola and Elaine went to the beach arena where Nicola came first in the beach sprint (NZ champion) and third in the flags. Elaine came an incredible second place in the fiercely competitive beach flags event.

Overall, a great competition against some incredibly talented, and extremely fit competitors from around the country.

“We are already planning a trip to Christchurch next year,” he said.

Ōpōtiki lifeguard Elaine Hunia entered the event for the first time in the canoes and ended up scoring a silver in the beach flags event.

This is a high-intensity, elimination-style event where competitors lie face-down in the sand, facing away from a row of flags placed 15-20 metres away.

On a signal, they jump up, turn, and sprint to secure a flag. With there always being one fewer flag than competitors, the slowest are eliminated until only one winner remains.

Hunia was stoked with the result and is eyeing up future competitions.

“It was a proud and humbling moment, especially given all the talented wahine in the line-up.

“A reminder that passion, perseverance and heart can take you all the way to the podium.

“We are all gearing up for the pool champs in a couple of months and looking forward to next year in Christchurch.”

The Ōpōtiki club was also honoured to be represented by the oldest competitor in the competition.

The 75+ masters group had just one competitor – former club president of Lyall Bay SLSC, now current patron of Ōpōtiki SLSC, and Surf Life Saving New Zealand Life Member, Carol Quirk.

Quirk has participated in well over 50 national championships and was the first-ever female president of a surf lifesaving club in New Zealand.

“I first started surf lifesaving in 1968 at Paekakariki when I was 18 years old, before moving over to Lyall Bay,” she said.

“Before 1976, Lyall Bay was only a men’s club and the women’s-only club was Wellington Ladies, so when they merged, I joined.

“I’ve only skipped a few national champs over the years, and I do feel like Ōhope is the best beach to be at.

“You can see right down the beach from one end to the next, the weather is fantastic, and there’s an event hub with a good buzz.”

Quirk competed in the surf race, the board race, the beach sprint and beach flags.

“In the good old days, when I started, there were only five events for women. They were the rescue and resuscitation, the belt race, the march past, and the surf race, and that was it,” she said.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand board chairman Kelvyn Eglinton acknowledged Quirk’s role in establishing the first masters’ competition at national level in the mid‑1990s.

She was on the organising committee and arranged for the juniors to have the chance to do the officiating for the masters, which has since become an integrated part of the sport.