Mount Maunganui lifeguards victorious again in NZ champs

Sometimes in sport staying at the top is harder than getting there in the first place.

For Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service fending off challenges to their mantle as New Zealand's top club has become common place as they continue to set a record at nationals that will take some beating.

On Sunday the Mount clubbies won their fifth consecutive title, and their eighth triumph in the last nine years, at the TSB Bank Surf Life Saving Championships held at New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.

Head coach John 'Spindles' Bryant says every title is special but this one has to rate right up there considering the distance travelled and the winning margin.

Mount Maunganui ended up with 156 points, with Mairangi Bay second on 96 and Waikanae third on 87.

"I think that has to be our third biggest win actually at nationals. It is a lot more challenging now. The other clubs are getting a lot closer, their coaches are doing a good job with their athletes which is making it tougher," Bryant said.

"Waikanae have improved a hell of a lot and so they should with someone like Cory Hutchings coaching them. We just have to keep improving. I have always said if we keep improving we will remain at the top and if we don't the other clubs will catch us.

"I hope that if other coaches are following my footsteps and they are adding their own flavour to coaching and things like that, then there are exciting times ahead for the sport. The first thing you've got to find in a coach is the passion to do it."

The younger athletes who have grown up through Bryant's training programme were particularly impressive in Christchurch.

"Our under-19 boys are very special at the moment. They train hard and are a great bunch of kids but one of the special things this weekend for us was how the under-16 girls stepped up and we got quite a few medals," Bryant said.

"Our under-19 girls started to deliver a bit more, not so much on the medal table but they were getting better results. Our Open women and men are always pretty solid and did some great work."

Talking up a few individuals after three days of team effort is not an easy task but Bryant says there were a few obvious standout performances.

"Hamish Miller's two wins in the Surf Race and the under-19 Ironman is just unreal. The kid has the heart of a lion. He just keeps going and is unbelievable.

"Lincoln Waide in the (U19) ski race was against kayakers in flat conditions and he just showed you don't have to be a ski paddler as he just cleaned them up."

In the glamour Open Ironman event Oliver Puddick was second between internationally rated athletes in winner Cory Taylor from Midway and Max Beattie from Omanu in an outstanding performance.

"He didn't win it but he took Max Beattie out with pure determination and skill and by just leaving nothing in the tank," Bryant said.