Nippers show off their skills

About 100 young surf lifesavers tested their rescue skills at the annual Nipper Carnival, at Riversdale Beach yesterday.

Riversdale Beach Surf Lifesaving Club captain Mike Taylor said about 350 people gathered on the beach to cheer on lifesavers representing clubs from Riversdale, Lyall Bay, Worser Bay, Maranui, Titahi Bay and Otaki.

He said the annual carnival featured races on sand and in the surf for lifesavers aged from 6 to 14.

Events included a flag race, sprints, board race, team sprint, tube rescue and a team relay comprising a swimmer, a board racer and a runner.

Competitor numbers were marginally down on past years, with fewer Wellington clubs represented, as regional boundaries for surf lifesaving clubs had changed.

However, organisers aim to bring back more Wellington competitors to the Riversdale carnival in future, he said.