The Eastern Bay was well represented at the National Surf Lifesaving Pool Rescue Competition in Auckland last weekend, returning with multiple medals.

Cathryn Rowland and Catriona Manning represented Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club in the masters divisions at the competition, held at the Sir Owen Glen National Pool, while Steve Williamson, Mere Edwards and Nicola Petersen represented Ōpōtiki Surf Life Saving Club in the same divisions.

Isla Williamson was Ōpōtiki’s first junior competitor at a pool event, competing in the Under-12 division.

Pool rescue nationals is a unique event in sport.

Competitors race to save manikins, swim under obstacles and put on their racing fins to simulate rescue scenarios they might encounter.

It attracts competitors ranging from under 11 years old to masters in their 60s and 70s.

Steve Williamson said it made for a busy warm-up, with over 500 people in the pool.

The sport is growing, especially in the masters age groups with five heats of masters’ women and six heats of masters’ men keen to prove there are as fit, fast and capable in the pool as their younger counterparts.

Competing in the 55 to 59 years, Manning won gold in the 100m manikin carry with fins and the 100-metre manikin tow with fins, and silver in the 100m obstacle swim, the 50m manikin carry and 50m swim with fins.

As well as competing, she was an official for the event.

In the 45 to 49 age group, Rowlands won gold in the 50m manikin carry and silver in the 100m manikin carry with fins, the 100m obstacle swim and 100m manikin tow with fins. In the 50m swim with fins, she was fourth.

Having won gold in the line throw at the Eastern Region Championships, the pressure was on Rowlands and Manning to repeat their performance at nationals, which they did.

Together, the women won gold in the 45-49 masters’ female line throw with Rowland the thrower and Manning the patient.

Competing in the 50 to 54 years age group, Williamson won the 100-metre manikin carry with fins, and finished second in the 100m obstacle, 50m manikin carry and 50m fins.

“Although I got a lot of second places, it was only because I was beaten by Australian visitor, Troy Racklyeft, an Australian champion who was there preparing for the world championships later in the year in South Africa, and who managed to break a world record while he was there,” said Williamson.

“I can still claim to be the best New Zealander though.”

Isla, Williamson’s daughter, was nervous to be at her first national competition and although she did not do her best times, says she would like to compete again next season and do better.

She finished 22nd in the under-12 50m brick carry, 16th in the 50m swim with fins, 15th in the 50m rescue medley with brick and 18th in the Isla 50m obstacle race.

Petersen, competing at 24 weeks’ pregnant, lived up to Surf Lifesaving NZ’s motto, “In it for life”, and performed extremely well, providing inspiration to women in the pool and on the deck.

She won her 30-34 years age group in the 100m manikin carry and with fins, the 100m obstacle, and the manikin tow with fins, the 50m manikin tow with fins and 50m fins, and was second in the 50m manikin carry.

Edwards was third in the 100m manikin carry with fins and fourth in the 50m manikin carry and 50m fins.

Rowlands said they were grateful to have “awesome” coaches, who prepared them well for the event, including Gary Waller who coaches the surf club swimmers, keeping them fit during winter and ready for the surf season, Pavel Astakhov, the new Whakatāne Swimming Club coach, and Simon Wills, the Whakatāne Surf Life Saving club coach.

What’s on at the club

■ Senior and preseason training has begun for Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving Club members.

■ A lifeguard muster and group lifeguard refresher will be held on October 18.

■ Junior surf programmes will start on November 15.