Sideline Sid - Sports blogger Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

Sideline Sid's sporting weekend was a bit like the weather last week – a mixture of highs and lows.

The undoubted high was being part of the Ocean Athletes (on the first day) until old age forced me from the beach.

The New Zealand Under 14 surf lifesaving championships has grown in 10 years from 200 participants to the over 800 that came from throughout the country to find the rising stars of the future.

Where junior surf sport really does it better than most other junior sports in New Zealand is the promotion of its heroes and legends. Former superstars, such as Cory Hutchings, and Morgan Foster, who won multiple World Beach Flag titles, were there throughout the championships.

Being accessible on the beach to the young stars of the future is a very important part of promoting role models in surf sport. Along with several current New Zealand World and National champions and two Aussie superstars, the elite athletes were an integral part of the championship.

While relatively unknown in New Zealand, Shannon Eckstein and Zane Holmes are as well known in Australia as the top cricket and league and rules players.

Whether signing autographs, guest commentating or just giving general support, the stars played a big role in the success of the Ocean Athletes.

While the first two and a half days really rocked, there was an empty feeling for all when ‘Super Sunday' was cancelled because of the Tsunami warning. The last day of competition is usually non-stop action where the best of the best are rewarded at the medal presentation ceremonies.

The low of the sporting weekend was the decision of 'Billy” Bowden to give out Ross Taylor in the first Chappell-Hadlee Twenty20 contest. While there was some debate by the television commentators for the (so called) reason of the dismissal – they were unanimous in that it was not out.

It was clearly not a caught behind as the ball wasn't anywhere near Taylor's bat and it certainly wasn't LBW, as even a Western Bay B grade player umpire wouldn't give a decision that saw the ball miles from the batsman's pads.

A second sporting high filtered through on Sunday night, of the prowess of the Mount Maunganui premier cricket side that won the ND (Northern Districts) Club championship title.

Facing Northland side Kaipara Flats at the neutral venue of Weymouth – the Mount side thought they were 30 runs short of victory when they were dismissed for 204.

The hero of the day was Mount quick bowler Tony Goodin. While he learnt his early skills playing for Mount College, he honed his fast bowling craft playing a couple of seasons in Perth.

Six wickets for just 11 runs destroyed the vaunted Kaipara batting attack, and was the main contributor to Northland side being removed for just 138. The ND victory booked the Mount team a berth at the National Club Finals to be played in Auckland at Easter.

Seeya at the Game.