The sea conditions were described as “gnarly”. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV
EMMA BROWN
[email protected]
There was rain, wind, and limited sunshine, but that didn’t deter hundreds of youngsters from hitting up Riversdale Beach on Sunday.
More than 200 nippers from all over the central coast region packed the beach for a junior surf lifesaving carnival.
Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club chairman Dave Rose said the sea was “a bit gnarly” during the event, and it was “quite tough for younger competitors”.
But a contingent of more than 40 Riversdale lifeguards were on duty to ensure beachgoers were safe, he said.
Starting at 9am, children aged 7-14 competed in a variety of beach and water events.
Riversdale SLSC committee member Jane Tiley said because of their unique nippers programme, which included five- and six-year-olds, there was also a small competition for them as well.
She said the event was part of the carnival circuit for the Wellington region.
Anyone who was registered with a club could enter the competitions.
Tiley said some of the participants would have been accumulating points at the carnival for their season’s circuit tally, but for a lot of their Riversdale nippers it would be their only carnival.
Entrants participated in a mixture of events, such as sprints, beach flags, run swim run, and boogie boarding.
