Gisborne athletes in Black Fins

ONE OF FIVE: Midway's Olivia Corrin on the ski, making her way back on to land. She has been selected to represent New Zealand as a Black Fin in the open team going to the Lifesaving World Championships in September and October, being held in Italy. Picture by Paul Rickard

Four well-established Gisborne athletes have been named in the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Black Fins open team for the Lifesaving World Championships in Italy in September and early October.

A fifth athlete, from Australia, has joined a Gisborne club and has also been included in the 12-person team.

Cory Taylor, Olivia Corrin and Chris Dawson from Dawson Building Midway have been selected again, along with Briana Irving of Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae.

All have performed well for the national team in the past.

Michael Hanna, who — like Taylor and Corrin — lives in Australia, has joined Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club.

Hanna takes a place in the team as a beach events specialist.

He is eligible for the Black Fins because his father is a New Zealander, and he (Michael Hanna) holds a New Zealand passport.

He competes for the Elouera SLSC at Cronulla in Sydney, and won the open beach sprint title at the Australian national championships this year.

It is understood he was not selected for the Australian worlds team because he did not compete in the beach flags at the Australian titles this year.

Taylor and Corrin compete in swim and craft events, Dawson competes in swim events and Irving is another beach specialist in sprints and beach flags.

The team, comprising six females and six males, will compete in the national open teams division in a total of 47 events over six days across pool rescue, ocean and beach disciplines in Riccione, Italy, from September 27 to October 2.

“After a disruptive couple of years where our athletes have worked tirelessly to ensure they are in a position to add to the Black Fins legacy at the Lifesaving World Champs, they are fizzing to pull on the Black Cap,” Black Fins campaign lead Daniel Grant said.

With the excitement from the new caps alongside the experience of the capped athletes, the team looked forward to representing their country, family and clubs on the world stage again, Grant said.

Included in the team is Commonwealth Games swimming sensation Lewis Clareburt from Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club.

The full team: Steven Kent (Mairangi Bay SLSC), Madison Kidd (Whangamata), Max Beattie (Omanu), Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay), Cory Taylor (Midway), Natalie Peat (Papamoa), Chris Dawson (Midway), Lewis Clareburt (Lyall Bay), Olivia Corrin (Midway), Molly Shivnan (Omanu), Michael Hanna (Waikanae) and Briana Irving (Waikanae).

The reserves are Claudia Kelly (East End) and Joe Collins (Fitzroy).

The programme for the event has been reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions, and all of the interclub, IRB and surfboat events have been cancelled.

Only the national teams' open and youth events and masters' championships will be held.

Included in the New Zealand youth team are Waikanae athletes Jack Keepa, Lachie Falloon and Oska Smith.