A medal haul ended a busy patrol season at Brighton Surf Life Saving Club.
Club coach Dave McPhee said eight members from the club competed at the national surf life saving championships in Gisborne for three days from March 13.
Club members Tomas Woodford-Webb (16), Jordan Lennon (16), Jamie Harrison (17) and Blake Porteous (17) paddled in a four-man surf canoe and won bronze medals in the under-19 men's canoe long (900m) and short course (600m) races.
The club last won medals in canoeing racing about 10 years ago, he said.
''For a little club like Brighton, they've done fantastically well,'' Mr McPhee said.
The four were top qualifiers in the short course race and were unbeaten at South Island competitions this season, he said.
President Nevan Trotter said the win was a highlight in a year of many highlights for the club, including an ''intense'' patrolling season which finished on March 15.
''I've been involved for 10 years and I can't remember it being as busy, with the sheer number of people on the beach.''
The lifeguards patrolled for 1238 hours and made six rescues; 385 preventive actions were made, such as telling people swimming outside the flags to move between them.
The new surf club was opened in November and had been ''well received''.
It was regularly used by community groups and for corporate functions and hosted three wedding celebrations.
Another highlight was the club winning an inflatable rescue boat package in November by getting the most public votes.
The boat had seen action and would be taken to the IRB nationals for three of the club's crews to use this weekend at Warrington Beach.
