Dawson Building Midway will have one of the club’s largest-ever teams at the championships this year.
“We will have 10 seniors [over 14] and 14 juniors [under 14] competing,” club head coach Jack Gavin said.
Midway’s Charlotte Willoughby, a national record holder in one of the rescue events, looks set to be right amongst it again. Photo / Keepa Digital
“Midway is going to have a lot of competitive teams having a crack at the podium.
“Ones to watch will be the Willoughby sisters [Celia and Charlotte Willoughby]. They are both New Zealand record holders.
“Baxter Phelps in the juniors should be competitive in most of his events too.”
Riversun Wainui will take a smaller team this year because of a clash with the New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships, but club coach Dion Williams said they were still a strong team.
Wainui’s Brooke Williams has made steady progress on the comeback trail after a bad injury to one of her legs last year. Photo / Keepa Digital
“We have just six competitors this year, five juniors and a masters competitor, but they will be well led by Brooke Williams.”
Williams is coming back from an injury that involved two major operations last summer.
Dion Williams said she set the fastest times out of all regional championships in the 100m obstacle and 50m flat-out speed swim “with flippers on, which is a good sign for success this weekend”.
She won three gold medals in the 2025 national pool rescue championships.
“Our mixed relay team of Brooke, her sister Alyvia Williams, Tyler Sheldrake and Jacob Gibson have real potential [for a] top three placing in the three different relay events,” Dion Williams said, adding that Summer Hovell individually in the Under-13 girls “has real potential”.
Hovell’s father Sean Hovell will be in action in the masters events.
Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae head coach Arna Majstrovic said her club will have “a small but talented group” in action.
“Tylar Dear and Emmie Fitzharris-Stevens bring experience to the team as returning athletes to the big stage.
“They have an amazing tube rescue combination, which we are really excited to see in action.”
Majstrovic said they have a group of U12s coming along.
“That will create some mixed teams with Elle and Rico Rye, Payton Dear and Tyson Puddick.
“They have been training consistently and improving their skills every week.
“I am already very proud of the enthusiasm these athletes have displayed over the season and their commitment to training and it will be an exciting few days for them and their whanau.”
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) general manager of sport Zac Franich said the young competitors coming through could learn from some of the most experienced athletes.
“Seven of our current Black Fins plus eight Junior Black Fins will use these championships as part of their preparation for the Lifesaving World Championships in South Africa later this year.”
SLSNZ national event manager Luke Smith said the mix of ages and experience was one of the things that makes the championships special.
“It’s the only event on the calendar that has young athletes competing alongside some of our most experienced competitors, and that creates a really positive environment for learning, connection and competition,” Smith said.