The New Zealand Black Fins have claimed the world surf lifesaving title for the second time in as many years.
PHOTO/BARBARA NEWTON
The New Zealand Black Fins have claimed the world surf lifesaving title for the second time in as many years.
PHOTO/BARBARA NEWTON
Bay of Plenty athletes have helped the New Zealand team to become just the second country to claim back to back world surf lifesaving titles.
A number of local athletes were in action on the final day, helping to protect a solid lead established over the first four days ofcompetition over former back to back champions Australia and hosts France.
The team started off their final day of competition on a high, grabbing a medal in the team's first event of the day. Fresh from winning a world championship title in the Women's Board Race yesterday, Mairangi Bay's Danielle McKenzie stepped in to claim another silver for the team in the Iron woman.
Not to disappoint, Omanu's Max Beattie then also took silver in the Men's Board Race with Midway's Cory Taylor not too far behind in sixth.
It was then the captain, Andy McMillan's turn to add another medal to the tally with the St Clair SLSC member taking silver in the Men's Surf Race.
Australian Beach Flags Champion Chanel Hickman (Mairangi Bay) then took gold in the Women's Beach Flags, her first medal for the competition.
Teammate Paul Cracroft-Wilson followed up with a medal winning performance, taking silver in the Men's Beach Flags.
Not content with two golds and a silver already under her belt from Rescue 2014, McKenzie then stepped in to win another silver for the team in the Iron Woman with Midway's Cory Taylor also taking silver in the Iron Man.
The Women's Ocean Relay team of Natalie Peat (Papamoa), Natasha Hind (Lyall Bay), McKenzie and Hickman then claimed the day's only bronze medal.
The victorious NZ Black Fins, which includes local surf lifesaving athletes Max Beattie and Natalie Peat. Photo/Twitter
In true world champion style, the team finished off the day as they started- on a high note, winning gold in the Men's Taplin Team of Taylor, McMillan, Cracroft-Wilson and Beattie.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand chairman Geoff Hamilton was understandably thrilled with the performance.
"We look forward to re-writing the record books on this outstanding performance and to welcoming them all home in due course as world champions," he said.
The New Zealand Youth Team also had a successful day in the pool on their final day of competition, picking up another two medals to add to a successful campaign.
Papamoa's Ben Johnston and Sumner's Brittany Tucker each picked up bronze medals in the men's and women's 50m Manikin Carry.
Ben finished in a time of 31.96 with Germany's Joshua Perling in first place in a time of 31.28 and Spain's Domingo Togores in 31.88.
Brittany clocked 37.77 behind Australia's Prue Davies in a time of 37.32 and Germany's Annalena Geyer in third with a time of 37.46.
EARLIER: The New Zealand surf lifesaving team has reigned triumphant in France, taking the title of world champions.
The Black Fins have dominanted in several categories at the National Lifesaving World Champs 'Rescue 2014', and the local Papamoa IRB team also took the crown in the World IRB - Rescue 2014 which ran alongside the lifesaving champs.
The national Black Fins team includes local athletes Max Beattie and Natalie Peat. Meanwhile Papamoa's Ben Johnston, Jake Hales, Maia Bryant, Kelsi Boocock, Andrew Trembath and coach Kurt Wilson donned back and white to represent New Zealand in the Under 18 Youth Team.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand confirmed the win this morning, sharing a victorious winning photo with the Bay of Plenty Times.
