Heretaunga Sundevils Swimming Club

William Benson - Head Coach

Willy grew up in Hawkes Bay and has been swimming since the age of 11, when Olympian Jon Winter took the club to national prominence almost a decade ago at the Flaxmere Waterworld.

He is a former Hastings Boys' High School head boy, Dux and graduated from Massey University in Auckland with a business degree, majoring in management

Willy a 2008 Beijing Olympian swimmer, fly and free sprint specialist, also enjoys the game of rugby, currently playing competitively for Napier Old Boys Marist

Career Highlights:

1999-2005-Sundevils swimmer2003-50m Fly 15 year old NZ record (LC)2005-Hastings Boys High School Head Prefect and Dux2005-HBSS Mens U15 100 Fly Record2005-Sydney Youth Games Festival2006-Oceania Championships2007-NZ Open 50m Fly NZ record (SC)2008-Beijing Olympics 4x100m Freestyle 11th place. Remains current NZ record.2008-Oceania Champs: 1st place 50m Freestyle. 2009-Massey University Graduate: Bachelor of Business Studies.2012-Joined Sundevils coaching team.2013-Became head coach of Sundevils.2015-50m Fly 1st place at NZSC Champs, NSW, Queensland and Victorian SC State Champs. 2015-Multiple finalist at Fina World Cups in Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing.2018-AON NZ Opens Legends Relay 4x50m Team Galloway 1st place.

Amy Renall

I started out swimming competitively and I represented NZ in open water swimming. But the thing was I was too heavy and I didn't have self-confidence. I went onto Surf lifesaving and waka ama, racing throughout NZ and overseas. 

​I ran my own swim coaching business which I really enjoyed and then I joined the police. I spent 17 years working in various areas, including training Police recruits as a Physical Trainer at the Police college and then qualified as a Detective.

In the police I found the Armed Offenders Squad a massive challenge so I trained like a crazy person (no kids then…) and qualified. I was the first woman in Hawkes bay to ever do so.

Grace Jones

Grace Jones was a former swimmer with the Heretaunga Sundevils Swimming Club. She has achieved success in various competitions, including winning a silver medal in the 4x50m freestyle relay at the NZ Short Course Championships. She also won a B final in the 50m freestyle and achieved a personal best in that event. Additionally, she was part of a Sundevils team that secured six open individual golds.