Wainui's Quilter beats her record

Laura Quilter. File picture

WAINUI surf lifesaver Laura Quilter broke her own world record in the 50-metre manikin carry while Midway’s Chris Dawson won the men’s version of the same event at the Australian Pool Rescue Championships.

Both were competing at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in preparation for the world lifesaving championships in The Netherlands next month.

On Saturday, Auckland-based Quilter took almost half a second off the time she recorded at the Queensland Pool Championships on July 10. On that occasion she recorded a time of 33.21 seconds, more than a second faster than her own world record.

As the championships were not a sanctioned event, the record could not be ratified, but on Saturday, she set a new mark at a sanctioned event to achieve an official world record.

“It’s a great feeling being able to post a time like that,” Auckland-based Quilter said.

“The world championships aren’t far away so this gives me a bit of confidence. The icing on the cake has to be the fact that I was racing for Wainui at this competition.

“I’m incredibly proud to represent Gisborne and Wainui.”

The week before she swam her unofficial world record, Quilter was named Gisborne Tairawhiti Sportswoman of the Year for the third year in a row.

Dawson, as well as winning the open men’s 50m manikin carry, was third in the open men’s 200m obstacle race at the Autralian champs.

Another Midway surf lifesaver, Gold Coast-based Cory Taylor, is also in the New Zealand Black Fins team for the world championships.