Performing on the international stage

GISBORNE'S FINEST: Lifeguard Casie Fyall, Sportswoman of The Year Olivia Corrin and Sportman of the Year Matt Scott at the Logan Sporting Excellence Awards after returning from The Sanyo International Lifesaving Cup in Japan. Picture by Paul Rickard.

THREE Gisborne surf lifesavers helped New Zealand to second place at an international competition in Japan this month.

Midway Surf Life Saving Club’s Olivia Corrin (16) and Matt Scott (18), and Waikanae’s Casie Fyall (19) were in the 10-strong New Zealand team at the 2016 Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Miyazaki, southern Japan.

“This is an awesome group of athletes who have done New Zealand proud,” team manager Steve Vaughan said.

New Zealand were second overall with 782 points, just 16 behind Australia.

Gisborne’s athletes each had at least one individual win.

Corrin won the women’s board race on Day 1 and Day 2; Scott won the men’s surf race on Day 1 and was second on Day 2; and Fyall won the women’s beach sprint and was second in the beach flags on Day 1, and was second in the beach sprint on Day 2.

All three also played roles in relay successes over the two days.

“We’re all really proud” Fyall said.

“We came out all guns blazing on the first day,” she said, noting the team had 18 medals and led the competition on points at the end of Day 1.

However, Australia performed strongly on Day 2 to finish just ahead of the Kiwis.

Scott said New Zealand won seven races in a row on the first day.

“Everyone’s spirits were up, then the Aussies got in our head a bit,” he said.

Team manager Vaughan was happy with the group’s performance.

“They gave it their all to stay in front on Day 2 but on this occasion the Australians showed their skills,” he said.

“I’m incredibly proud of the attitude shown to try to peg the Aussies back.”

Corrin’s performance in the board races was a standout feature of the event, Vaughan said.

Team members also had a three-day tour during which they spent time with Japanese school students.

“It was just amazing,” said Corrin, who attends Gisborne Girls’ High School and is part of the Swimming New Zealand Pathway to Podium programme.

Competing on the world stage is nothing new to Corrin, who competed in the Australian age-group swimming championships this year.

Fyall and Scott have also experienced international competition.

Scott, who is also on the Swimming New Zealand Pathway to Podium programme, won the five-kilometre open water race at the Ocean Swimming Championships in Fiji last month.

“It was a really eye-opening experience . . . we were the All Blacks to them,” he said of his time exploring the island nation.

The achievements of all three athletes were recognised at the Logans Sporting Excellence Awards last week.

Corrin won the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award, Fyall was a finalist for the same award, and Scott won the Junior Sportsman of the Year award.

They were in Gisborne for the function, although Fyall was to return to Auckland today for tertiary study, and Scott has left for the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in the Netherlands.