Congratulations to Yr 9’s India Scholes who medalled in an impressive seven events — four of them individual races — at last weekend's Oceans '23 Festival of Junior Surf Lifesaving.

She beat more than 100 girls in her age group to win gold in the U13/14 tube rescue, silver in the U13 surf race, female run-swim-run event and U13/14 mixed Grand Cameron and bronze in the U13/14 female board relay, U13 female diamond and U13 female board race. Indie competes for Mount Maunganui, the host of the weekend event which drew around 700 competitors from all over NZ.

It’s been a stellar summer for the Yr 9 student. She won the overall U13 girls division at the Eastern Regional Surf Lifesaving Championships in Waihi Beach last month. She bested competitors from Coromandel, Hawkes Bay, the BOP and Taranaki to win the U13 female surf race, board race and run-swim-run.

Also, our congratulations to other Aquinas lifesavers who came away from last weekend’s four-day National Oceans event with medals. Mia Fitzgerald (Yr 7) won the U12 mixed beach relay and mixed Grand Cameron relay. Fellow Year 7 Max Page won bronze in the U11 mixed beach relay, and Charlotte Devoy (Yr 9) came third in the U13/14 female board relay. Fantastic results, well done all.