Surf Lifesaving: Moors makes waves at flat surf carnival

Chris Moors. Photo / Christine Cornege

Chris Moors made a strong statement in front of New Zealand selectors at the Eastern Regional surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui today.

The Red Beach 26-year-old overcame a slow start in his ski race to win the surf race and board race, amid lake-like conditions on the east coast beach.

He then teamed up with clubmate AJ Maney to win the board rescue and, to top things off, comfortably won his ironman heat late in the day.

"Training's starting to come together, although it was a bit up and down there for a while in Australia," said Moors, who is based on the Gold Coast with the Kurrawa club. "I had a few flat patches but the last two or three weeks leading up to this have felt really good. I'm feeling fit and that helps in flat conditions. Once you get out front, it's hard to be caught."

Moors is the reigning national ironman champion and he will also try and defend his ERC ironman crown tomorrow.

But the satisfying part of his day was the calibre of athletes he beat, heading home national champion Andrew Newton (Mount Maunganui) in the board race and easing past New Zealand stalwart Glenn Anderson in the surf race.

National selectors will pick a team later in the season to compete in November's world championships in Adelaide, with Moors hoping his consistency is starting to get him noticed.

Kayaker Steve Ferguson (Piha) grabbed the ski race title, holding off Scott Bicknell (Ocean Beach Kiwi) and Mairangi Bay's Kevin Morrison, while veteran Morgan Foster took down arch-rival Paul Cracroft-Wilson in the beach flags.

There were five different winners in open women's events, with Nikki Cox (Westshore) winning the board race and Mount Maunganui's French champion Emmanuelle Bescheron winning the surf race.

Mairangi Bay's Rachel Dodwell won the ski race, ahead of Cox and Teneale Hatton (Orewa), while Danielle McKenzie and Madison Boon won the board rescue.

McKenzie also finished second in the board, continuing her fine form in the surf race series this summer.

National champion Chanel Hickman (Mairangi Bay) comfortably took out the flags, ahead of Kendall Elliott (Mt Maunganui) and Katie Watts (Fitzroy).

Short course finals were held in the surf boat arena, with Mairangi Bay easing home in the women's division and Piha triumphing in the men.

Piha's boat dominance helped them to second on the overall club points tally with 27, level with Papamoa and just one behind hosts Mount Maunganui. Mairangi Bay are on 25, with Red Beach on 21.