Surf Club: Fitzroy athletes stand out at international meet

Fitzroy Surf Lifesaving Club’s young athletes shone at the International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC) in Mount Maunganui, delivering standout performances that put both their club and New Zealand firmly in the spotlight.​

The ISRC was based around a comprehensive team competition programme conducted over three tests, featuring swim, board, ski and beach events, with an overall points tally deciding the 2025 International Surf Rescue Challenge champion.

The event returned to Mount Maunganui Beach, where it was last held in New Zealand in 2017, adding extra significance for the home teams

Sixteen-year-old Charlize Duncan, pictured left, rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion, debuting with the New Zealand Youth team before stepping up to the elite NZ Black Fins after an injury opened a spot in the senior squad.

Displaying poise and confidence beyond her years, Duncan contributed to several podium finishes across the three-test series.​

Racing for the Youth Team in Test 1, Duncan claimed equal second in the sprint, second in flags and third in the beach relay.

After joining the Black Fins in Tests 2 and 3, she helped the team secure further medals, finishing second in the beach relay and sixth in flags in Test 2, then taking first place in the tube rescue in Test 3 along with another second in the beach relay and fifth in flags.

Her efforts helped the Black Fins secure second place overall at the ISRC, an impressive result against the world’s best surf lifesaving nations.​

Fitzroy’s success did not stop there.

Aussie-based Kiwi Joe Collins also flew the flag high for his home club and country.

After challenging conditions in Test 1 led to the cancellation of water events and a modest fifth place in the beach relay, Collins bided his time before exploding into form in the surf.​

In Test 2, Collins powered to victories in the board race, surf teams and board rescue, while adding second-place finishes in the tube rescue and beach relay and a fourth in the demanding Ocean Man.

He carried that momentum into Test 3, winning another board race and securing second in the Ocean Man, board relay, mixed board relay, and tube rescue, along with third in the beach relay.

Individual podium finishes for East End athletes included Claudia Kelly winning silver in both the T1 and T3 Open Female Ski, along with bronze in the T2 Open Female Ski and bronze in the T3 Open Female Ocean Man.

Chris Callebaut claimed silver in the T2 Youth Male Surf Race and bronze in the T1 Youth Male Ski, while Daniel Callebaut struck gold in the T2 Open Male Surf Race.

Freya Stolte secured silver in both the T2 and T3 Youth Female Ocean Man, plus bronze in the T2 and T3 Youth Female Board races.

Julia Padrutt earned gold in the T1 Open Female Ski, and Tara Shotter picked up silver in the T2 Open Female Surf Race.​