Team title at Mount Monster to Gisborne clubbies

LEAP OF FAITH: Midway’s Matt Scott leaps off Moturiki Island for the 1500-metre swim leg of the Mount Monster race at Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Scott was part of the winning team, which also featured Gisborne’s Tayler Reid. Pictures by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

GISBORNE surf lifesavers were among the top placings in the Mount Monster at Mount Manganui on Saturday.

Midway’s Matt Scott and Tayler Reid were part of the winnning team in the gruelling multi-discipline event comprising a five-kilometre beach run, 1500m swim, 12km surf ski paddle and 6km board paddle and sprint to the finish line at the Mount’s main beach.

Reid, recently named in the New Zealand team for the triathlon at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next year, did the run and Scott did the swim.

Under the team name The Shark Tank, the pair combined with Andrew Trembath (board) and Kurtis Imrie (ski) to top the 66-team field in 2 hours 16 minutes 58 seconds.

A young Waikanae team — the Bretherens — were second overall and first in the under-19 male category in 2.21.31.

The team comprised Matthew Proffit (run), Michael Pickett (swim), Thomas Hart (board) and Joran Mclarin (ski).

A two-person Midway team of New Zealand junior representative Olivia Corrin (board/swim) and Callum Torrie (run/ski) were first open mixed team and seventh overall in 2.27.15.

Waikanae team Cory’s Angels won the u19 female category and were second female team overall. Briana Irving (run), Lauren Pickett (swim), Georgie Pitkethley (board) and Christy Tate (ski) clocked 2.41.39.

Midway’s Kate Blakeman (run/swim), Danielle Scott (board) and Annabelle Higgins (ski) were second in the u19 female category in 2.50.58.

The Midway team of Sam Read (run), Jacob Corrin (swim), Ruben Bronlund (board) and Will Pittar (ski) were fifth in the u19 division and ninth overall in 2.28.46.

Meanwhile, Mount Manganui clubbie Hamish Miller led from start to finish to win the men’s individual title in 2.20.36, 1min 20secs ahead of clubmate Declan Dempster.

Former Wainui club member Ollie Puddick (now with the Mount) was fourth.

Mairangi Bay surf lifesaver Rachel Clarke won the women’s title in 2.41.36, with Lyall Bay’s Ella Kingi second in 2.42.22.