Surf lifesaving: Kiwis closer to second title

Mount Maunganui's Olivia Eaton won gold in the women's Beach Flags. Photo / Barbara Newton

After an impressive second day on the beach, the Black Fins are edging closer to rewriting the history books by being the first surf lifesaving team to win back-to-back world titles.

Mairangi Bay's Danielle McKenzie led the charge, winning gold in the women's Board Race. The 20-year-old is fresh from qualifying for this year's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series.

The women's Tube Rescue team of Natasha Hind, Natalie Peat, Laura Quilter and Samantha Lee then took one of the day's three silver medals.

Omanu's Max Beattie and Cory Taylor (Midway) each picked up two silver medals in the men's Board Rescue, followed by the men's Beach Relay.

New Zealand team manager Mark Weatherall says the points can change quickly from day to day and the team is just focusing on their performance and what they came to France to do - to win the title for the second time in a row and recreate history.

New Zealand won the title of lifesaving world champions at Rescue 2014 in Adelaide for the first time in 14 years.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Youth team moved over to the pool for their third day of competition and added another four medals to their 18 medals from the first two days of competition on the beach.

The men's Obstacle Relay team of Trembath, Jacob Hales (Papamoa), Ben Johnston (Papamoa) and Matthew Scott (Midway) took the day's only bronze in a time of 1.43.11.

St Clair's Andrew Trembath took silver in the men's 200m Obstacles in a time of 1.59.90, just behind Italy's Francesco Ippolito and ahead of Australia's Bradley Woodward.

The men's and women's Line Throw teams each took silver with Omanu's Ben Cochrane and Jake Hurley (Mairangi Bay) in a time of 00.12.81, and Brittany Tucker (Sumner) and Jasmine Smith (Wainui) in a time of 00.15.71.

On day two, Olivia Eaton, representing Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, became world champion after winning gold in the women's Beach Flags.

Papamoa's Johnston won a silver medal in the men's Board Race. Midway's Matthew Scott added to the team's successful day on the beach by taking bronze in the men's Surf Race and Omanu's Ben Cochrane took bronze in the Ironman.

The current points standing has the New Zealand Youth Team in second place on 628 points, behind Australia on 772. South Africa is in third place with 369 points.