Lessons learned in Taylor's mistakes

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE: Gisborne's Cory Taylor said it was an honour to take on the world's best all-rounders in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series and he learned a lot from the experience. 2015 photo by Paul Rickard.

MISTAKES in sport at most levels can be damaging.

Mistakes in sport at the highest level can be fatal.

That is one lesson Gold Coast-based Gisborne surf lifesaver Cory Taylor took away from his first taste of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series, which ended in Cronulla last weekend.

Taylor, 22, ended the six-round series 17th out of 18 men’s competitors in the prestigious and full-on series, which pits the world’s best all-rounders.

Midway club member Taylor was frank about his campaign, saying that while he went close to achieving some of his goals, he was not at the level, skill-wise or physically, he needed to be.

“But it was much more about gaining experience and learning from my mistakes this first time around,” he said.

“My main learning point is the fact you cannot make a mistake at this level of competition. Everybody is too good and it makes the race very difficult to win if you make an error.”

That aside, Taylor said: “I felt honoured to be able to race against the world’s best in our sport. It all went by pretty fast — it only feels like yesterday I had qualified and now it’s all over.”

Among the memorable moments for Taylor was seeing the awe on kids’ faces every time he ran out of the tent for the start of racing.

“It felt surreal what I had achieved, to then get to the line, turn around and just take in all the crowd. It was something so special.”

Taylor was one of three Kiwis involved in the series.

Omanu’s Max Beattie finished 11th overall after being sixth after the first three rounds.

“It took a few missed chances and some unlucky waves and I was back outside the top ten. But, I’m still happy with the way I raced,” he says.

Mairangi Bay’s Danielle McKenzie was 13th in the women’s competition, repeating her placing of the previous year.

“The series is just a huge experience in itself. It’s a whole new level of racing and I would definitely say it’s some of the hardest racing I’ve done,” she says.

Australian Shannon Eckstein was the overall men’s winner, heading off defending champion Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua.

Jordan Mercer won the women’s title from Kirsty Higginson and Brodie Moir.

New Zealand team coach Jason Pocock said the series brought some challenges for the three athletes but overall he was very happy with their performances.

“It’s a huge achievement to make this series and to have three Kiwis in the same series is a testament to the quality of athletes coming through the ranks.”