Young lifeguards gather in the Bay

Nearly 750 junior lifeguards from around the country will descend on Mount Maunganui for the annual New Zealand under-14 Ocean Athletes championships starting tomorrow.
In its ninth year, Ocean Athletes brings together 38 clubs from around New Zealand, pitting the future stars of the sport against each other in more than 1000 races over three days.
Three-time national ironman champion Daniel Moodie was just one surf star to come through the Ocean Athletes ranks, representing Westshore in 2002, with more than 6000 juniors in total competing since 2000.
Local clubs Papamoa, Mount Maunganui and Omanu again loom as the favourites, with Papamoa aiming to emulate Westshore's triple success from 2004-2006.
Papamoa won their second title last year after collecting 83 points, nearly double that of second-placed hosts Mount Maunganui, who finished on 43.
But Omanu's impressive junior programme should start reaping rewards - with New Zealand coach Scott Bartlett now at the club, the Omanu Junior Surf programme is now the biggest in the country with more than 400 junior members.
Gisborne’s Waikanae club, third last year, and Wellington’s Lyall Bay are two other clubs to have invested heavily in their junior ranks in recent years.
Lyall Bay's Hayley Cox will be looking to emulate her performance in the 10-year girls last year, when she won the surf race, board race and diamond race, while Papamoa's Natalie Peat is aiming for an incredible fifth consecutive surf race crown.
Papamoa will also be looking for an eight straight 2km relay title – the only year Papamoa hasn’t won that particular race was in the very first year of Ocean Athletes.
Event Manager Maree Kelly says the beauty of the Ocean Athletes concept is that it's run by local senior athletes for their younger members.
"Everyone who competes is a winner but we're also fiercely proud of developing competitive spirit, so everyone who wins is a true champion," Kelly said.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand sport manager Mark Weatherall is again delighted at the entries for this year.
“It reflects the increasing numbers participating in Junior Surf programmes throughout the country and the increasing depth of our sport,” Weatherall said.