Taylor named vice-captain for the World Surf Lifesaving Championships

VICE-CAPTAIN: Midway's Cory Taylor will be the vice-captain of the open Black Fins team at the World Lifesaving Championships in Italy next week. The Queensland-based surf athlete is looking forward to the challenge.File picture

Hot on the heels of the news that Waikanae's Lachie Falloon will co-captain the Junior Black Fins at the world champs comes news that Midway's Cory Taylor will be vice-captain of the open team.

Taylor was named yesterday as vice-captain of the Kiwi team for the World Surf Lifesaving Championships at Riccione in Italy next week.

That caps a big year for the Gold Coast-based Gisborne man who this year graduated with a Master of Finance degree from Bond University.

“It's an honour to be in the Black Fins,” Taylor said.

“To be vice-captain, alongside Steve Kent as captain, and just to have the chance to race at these world championships is really exciting.

“We have a very strong team both at the beach and in the pool and I think we're going to have a lot of fun battling it out with the rest of the world.”

The world championships start on September 27 in Italy.

Taylor, from Dawson Building Midway Surf Life Saving Club, said he was very proud to see so many Gisborne-based or Gisborne-affiliated athletes competing for the Black Fins and the Junior Black Fins.

“It really is pretty special to have so many of us in the two teams.

“And when you add in the coaching staff, there's even more.”

Adding a Masters degree to his already impressive list of achievements has opened up new opportunities for Taylor.

“You can't compete and race forever,” he said.

“Getting through this academically has been a great challenge and really has shown me there's plenty more to do when I do hang up my togs and cap.”

' Included in the open Black Fins team are Gisborne-born-and-bred Taylor, Olivia Corrin (Mid), Chris Dawson (Mid) and Brianna Irving (Wk), and Michael Hanna (Wk) from Australia.

Included in the junior team are Falloon, Oska Smith (Wk), Jack Keepa (Wk), and Summer Rolston (Wk).

' New Zealand is a powerhouse of competitive lifesaving, competing and winning internationally across pool, beach and IRB events.

The national teams include the Black Fins, Junior Black Fins (pool, ocean and beach), Black Props (IRBs) and Oar Blacks (surf boats).

The pinnacle event is the Lifesaving World Championships, held every two years.

New Zealand is the reigning champion in IRB and in the Youth World Championship, and has won the open championship in 1998, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Many of the Black Fins athletes also represent New Zealand in Commonwealth and Olympic sports.