A new force in surf lifesaving has arrived. Papamoa's historic first Northern Regionals overall title at the weekend sent the biggest signal yet that the Bay of Plenty club have come of age.Papamoa dethroned Gisborne juggernaut Midway at the annual carnival cut short by the weather on the final day at Mount Maunganui.

Torrential rain forced the cancellation of the last three hours of competition, denying Midway a chance of making up points.

Papamoa won the overall title for the first time in the 40-year history of the event. They finished on 68 points, with Mount Maunganui second on 62 and Midway third on 42. LeaderBrand Wainui were 12th on 15 and Waikanae 20th on three.

Midway coach Cory Hutchings said losing was always tough for the reigning national champions to accept.

'We're never happy unless we win. It's all about winning for us.'

However, he was full of praise for the champions, who he said were developing ominously.

'Papamoa are just getting stronger and stronger every year. They have got a small city, the size of Gisborne . . . and quite a big pool to play with.'

Losing those last events – including all the taplin relays and several of the ironman events – hurt Midway, who were banking on collecting big points in a late charge.

Hutchings said surf conditions were contestable – four-to-five-foot waves – but the rain was the problem.

'Officials told me it was because of visibility. It was just a bit dangerous.'

Luck can play its part in such conditions. Unfortunately it wasn't on the side of senior Midway competitor Matt Sutton.

'Mattie was our best athlete . . . he was just unlucky results-wise. He had one of the unluckiest weekends I've seen.'

Midway highlights for Hutchings came from Leesa Barton, who won the open women's ski and the board rescue with Monique Francois, and was third in the ironwoman won by Westshore's Nikki Cox from former Gisborne competitor Bailey Elliott (Mairangi Bay).

Mike Janes had a strong carnival including victory with Sutton in the board rescue, second to Andrew Newton (Mt Maung) in the ironman and a first with Sutton and Cory Taylor in the board relay.

There were other wins to Maddie Boon (open women's board), Taylor and Dylan Pahina (under-19 men's board rescue) and Dan Janes (open men's board).

Wainui's crack open women's canoe crew of Moira Lee, Christine Robertson, Jane Goodman and Carolyn Hibbert picked up two wins while Toby Harris had two thirds in the u19 beach events.

U16 competitors Ryan Jarvis (board) and Corey Adams (beach flags) collected Waikanae's points.

The focus for the top open and u19 athletes shifts to the Lion Foundation Surf League at the Mount on February 13-14.

District teams are named tomorrow.