A series of gripping finishes marked the final day of the State New Zealand surf life saving championships in Gisborne at the weekend.

Omanu's Max Beattie out-sprinted local favourite Cory Taylor in the open ironman, denying Taylor's dreams of capturing the open-under-19 double, while the women's ski race and men's surf race both needed video footage to decide the winners.

Omanu's Max Beattie (left) out-sprints Midway's Cory Taylor to win the open ironman title at the 2012 State New Zealand surf life saving championships at Midway Beach, Gisborne. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Journalism.

In the end, Wainui's Oliver Puddick and Midway's Mike Janes couldn't be separated after their surf race sprint finish, crossing the line together and awarded first-equal, while Red Beach's Caitlin Ryan took out the women's ski race from Rachael Dodwell (Mairangi Bay and Devon Halligan (Midway).

Everywhere else, however, Halligan was peerless, winning the under-19 and open ironwoman race, the open board race and run-swim-run, the under-19 ski race and the under-19 tube and board rescue.

The Sydney-raised 19-year-old, whose father is former Kiwis rugby league star Daryl, was delighted with her form two weeks out from the Australian championships.

'I pretty much classify myself as a Kiwi so I'm really proud of my results here,” Halligan said.

'A lot of people in Australia don't know how good the competition is here on this side of the Tasman – there are so many good athletes coming through and it's really good racing.”

Taylor also had a stellar carnival, grabbing the under-19 ironman, surf race, ski race and tube rescue titles on the final day and picking up silver in the under-19 board race.

Despite the heavy schedule, he still had enough energy for one last sprint in the final leg of the open men's taplin, heading off Mairangi Bay's Mike Lee to hand Midway the crown.

It also gathered the crucial points for Midway to reclaim the Allan Gardner Trophy, over-taking defending champions Mount Maunganui.

Midway's final tally was 102.5, with Mount second on 98 and fellow Bay of Plenty club Papamoa third on 89.

Devon Halligan (centre) on her way to the open women's board race title at the 2012 State New Zealand surf life saving championships at Midway Beach, Gisborne. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Journalism.

Beattie's ironman victory followed an impressive first-day run-swim-run victory and a third in the board race, with the 20-year-old Gold Coast-based Kiwi unable to suppress his excitement.

'This is why you get up at 4.30 every morning and why you do those extra gym sessions,” Beattie said.

'You do the extra one per cent just to get this exact feeling – it's really indescribable.”

Beattie paid tribute to Taylor, who beat him in a similar sprint at last month's Lion Foundation Surf League in Mount Maunganui.

'He usually gets me in the sprint so this is a welcome change.

'He's been backing up all day, race after race, so for him to get second in the open ironman is a real credit to him.”

Mount Maunganui board paddler Andrew Newton also needed a sprint finish to successfully defend his board race title, while Martyn McDowell grabbed a tight ski race win over Piha's Olympic kayaker Steve Ferguson.

Glenn Anderson (New Plymouth Old Boys') finished behind Janes and Puddick in his specialist surf race, though still picked up yet another national title, with Mitchell Owen in the tube rescue.

Mairangi Bay's champion women's surf boat crew suffered an early set-back, pipped by Orewa in the short-course final, though normal service resumed when they later won the long-course title, from Red Beach and Bethells Beach.

The open men's division went entirely to form, however, with the Piha A crew successfully defending both the long-course and short-course titles.

The club's dominance showed with their second crew, the Piha Boomers, picking up a silver and a bronze in the two finals.

Waimairi emulated that effort by winning both open men canoe finals, while St Clair and Wainui shared wins in the open women's division, with the Papamoa masters crew finishing second both times.

State New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships Results

Men

Surf Race: Michael Janes (Midway) and Oliver Puddick (Wainui) 1=, Glenn Anderson (New Plymouth Old Boys) 3.

Tube Rescue: Mitchell Owen/Glenn Anderson (New Plymouth Old Boys) 1, Daniel Bromley/Benjamin Phillips (Taylors Mistake) 2, Michael Janes/Jack Gavin (Midway) 3.

Ski Race: Martyn McDowell (Titahi Bay) 1, Steven Ferguson (Piha) 2, Scott Bicknell (Ocean Beach Kiwi) 3.

Double Ski: Michael Lee/Travis Mitchell (Mairangi Bay) 1, Martyn McDowell/Todd Grace (Titahi Bay) 2, Zachary Franich/Jack Wilson (Orewa) 3.

Ski Relay: South Brighton (Mark Drabble/Steven Drabble/Ben Keys) 1, East End (Daniel Nelson/Hayden Corkin/Sam Julian) 2, Ocean Beach Kiwi (Scott Bicknell/Ryan Welch/William Wilkins) 3.

Board Race: Andrew Newton (Mt Maunganui) 1, Nicholas Malcolm (Mairangi Bay) 2, Max Beattie (Omanu) 3.

Ironman: Max Beattie (Omanu) 1, Cory Taylor (Midway) 2, Daniel Nelson (East End) 3.

Taplin Relay: Midway (Chris Dawson/Dylan Pahina/Cory Taylor/Michael Janes/Phillip Mills/Matthew Sutton) 1, Mairangi Bay (George Hunter/Bjorn Battaerd/Michael Lee/Nicholas Malcolm/Travis Mitchell/Kevin Morrison) 2, Papamoa (Matthew Strange/Blair Dunn/Brad Wilson) 3.

Boat Race (Short Course): Piha A (Paul Gerritrsen/Matt Kirke/Scott Lissington/Chris Morris/Ben Scott/Mark Bourneville) 1, Lyall Bay Blue (Edward Cade/Grant Fahey/Ash Jones/Brad Lawson/Arnie Moore/Arthur Turchie) 2, Piha Boomers (Myles Bowker/Chris Eade/Sam Hibbard/Hugh McCarroll/Wayne Simeon/Shane O'Halloran) 3.

Boat Race (Long Course): Piha A (Paul Gerritrsen/Matt Kirke/Scott Lissington/Chris Morris/Ben Scott/Mark Bourneville) 1, Piha Boomers (Myles Bowker/Chris Eade/Sam Hibbard/Hugh McCarroll/Wayne Simeon/Shane O'Halloran) 2, Muriwai (Dan McCormack/Hayden McIntosh/Ben Tapurau/Rick Wells/Tim Wilson/Ricky Butt) 3.

Canoe Race (Short Course): Waimairi (Mark Cresswell/Richard Phillips/Carl Righton/Greg Shea) 1, Westshore (Cian Jefferson/John O'Malley/Jared Phelps/Chris Swain) 2, Midway (Fletcher Scammell/Toa Halafihi/Connor Toa/Jared Proffit) 3. Canoe Race (Long Course): Waimairi (Mark Cresswell/Richard Phillips/Carl Righton/Greg Shea) 1, East End (Hayden Corkin/Luke Gibson/Sam Julian/Scott Nelson) 2, Westshore (Hamish Beattie/John O'Malley/Jared Phelps/Chris Swain) 3.

Women

Surf Race: Aimee Berridge (Mt Maunganui) 1, Devon Halligan (Midway) 2, Ayla Dunlop-Barrett (New Plymouth Old Boys) 3.

Tube Rescue: Ellish Hurley/Ayla Dunlop-Barrett (New Plymouth Old Boys) 1, Larissa Cowlrick/Nikki Cox (Westshore) 2, Lisa Blakemore/Kirsty Wannan (Piha) 3.

Ski Race: Caitlin Ryan (Red Beach) 1, Rachael Dodwell (Mairangi Bay) 2, Devon Halligan (Midway) 3.

Double Ski: Georgia Butt/Rachel Clarke (Orewa) 1, Madison Boon/Rachael Dodwell (Mairangi Bay) 2, Larissa Cowlrick/Nikki Cox (Westshore) 3.

Board Race: Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Arna Wright (Mt Maunganui) 2, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 3.

Ironman: Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Nikki Cox (Westshore) 2, Aimee Berridge (Mt Maunganui) 3.

Taplin Relay: Mairangi Bay (Madison Boon/Rachael Dodwell/Danielle McKenzie) 1, Mt Maunganui (Emmanuelle Bescheron/Brooke Shergold/Arna Wright) 2, Midway (Leesa Barton/Jemma Torrie/Devon Halligan) 3.

Boat Race (Short Course): Orewa Ospreys (Nikki Jones/Amie Thomason/Rebecca Thomason/Samantha Rogers/Stuart Handford) 1, Mairangi Bay Majic (Nina Reid/Carmel Tolhurst/Erin Tolhurst/Sarah Woolley/Rob Jones) 2, Orewa Maccas Little Oars (Breama Franich/Nicole Jones/Nicole Keinzley/Nastassia Randell/Mark McCarthny) 3.

Boat Race (Long Course): Mairangi Bay Majic (Nina Reid/Carmel Tolhurst/Erin Tolhurst/Sarah Woolley/Rob Jones) 1, Red Beach (Kelly Andrew/Ashleigh Jenkins/Lorraine Murray/Madison Smith/Zita Talaic/Warren McGougan) 2, Bethells Beach (Hilary Baker/Katie Blackwell/Lauren Gibbs/Lucy Curno/Chelsea Pike/Henry Backhouse-Smith) 3.

Canoe Race (Short Course): St Clair White (Sophie Robb/Carla Laughton/Stephanie Laughton/Monique Francois/Vienna Sutherland) 1, Papamoa (Alias Cowdrey/Jennifer Lochray/Tracey Mano/Naomi Davoren) 2, North Beach (Devon Smith/Nicole Wakefield/Brooke Ison/Alice Stafford) 3.

Canoe Race (Long Course): Wainui (Bayleigh Harrison/Carolyn Hibbert/Courtenay Waikari/Rachael Williams) 1, Papamoa (Alisa Cowdrey/Jennifer Lochray/Tracey Mano/Naomi Davoren) 2, St Clair White (Sophie Robb/Carla Laughton/Stephanie Laughton/Monique Francois/Vienna Sutherland/Kim Martyn) 3.

Under-23 Men

Boat Race (Short Course): Piha Pistols (Cedric Bourneville/Ludovik Bourneville/Benjamin Richards/Oliver Sawbridge/Jean-Paul Smit/Mark Bourneville) 1, Titahi Bay (Jono Boyd/Nick Boyd/Jordan Te Paa/Charles Graham/Tim Marsden) 2, Piha Pirates (Nicholas MacKenzie/Cahon McCarthy/Shamus O'Halloran/Jed Wright/Shane O'Halloran) 3.

Boat Race (Long Course): Piha Pirates (Nicholas MacKenzie/Cahon McCarthy/Shamus O'Halloran/Jed Wright/Shane O'Halloran) 1, Titahi Bay (Jono Boyd/Nick Boyd/Jordan Te Paa/Charles Graham/Tim Marsden) 2, Piha Pistols (Cedric Bourneville/Ludovik Bourneville/Benjamin Richards/Oliver Sawbridge/Jean-Paul Smit/Mark Bourneville) 3.

Under-21 Women

Boat Race (Short Course): Muriwai Black (Alison Craigie/Kendall Harrington/Jessica Parkin/Sophie Rowland/Ricky Butt) 1, Bethells Beach Babes (Ellouise Bray/Madeline Disberry/Nikita Parkin/Olivia Sale/David Oldham) 2, Piha Coladas (Audrey-Lisa Bourneville/Arnelia Brown/Claudia Goff/Gracey Monteith/Alice Rasmussen/Ben Scott) 3.

Boat Race (Long Course): New Brighton (Ilia Lindsay/Eva McDougall/Janelle Trask) 1, Muriwai Black (Alison Craigie/Kendall Harrington/Jessica Parkin/Sophie Rowland/Ricky Butt) 2, Bethells Beach Babes (Ellouise Bray/Madeline Disberry/Nikita Parkin/Olivia Sale/David Oldham) 3.

Under-19 Men

Surf Race: Cory Taylor (Midway) 1, Chris Dawson (Midway) 2, Ben Quilter (Wainui) 3.

Tube Rescue: Chris Dawson/Cory Taylor (Midway) 1, Daniel Kayes/Mason Pickering (Papamoa) 2, Jake Allen/Thomas McCarthy (Paekakariki) 3.

Ski Race: Cory Taylor (Midway) 1, Zachary Quickenden (South Brighton) 2, Sam Shergold (Mt Maunganui) 3.

Ski Relay: Mt Maunganui (Ryan Hayes/Andrew Roy/Sam Shergold) 1, Lyall Bay (Ryan Cox/Trent Luke/Tyler Maxwell) 2, Waikanae (Henry Ellingham/Jarrod Fitzgerald/Nick Te Puni) 3.

Double Ski: Alex Fort/Zachary Quickenden (South Brighton) 1, Henry Ellingham/Jarrod Fitzgerald (Waikanae) 2, Ryan Preston/Andrew Roy (Mt Maunganui) 3.

Board Race: Tyler Maxwell (Lyall Bay) 1, Cory Taylor (Midway) 2, Chris Dawson (Midway) 3.

Ironman: Cory Taylor (Midway) 1, Chris Dawson (Midway) 2, Daniel Hooker (Omanu) 3.

Taplin Relay: Midway (Chris Dawson/Dylan Pahina/Cory Taylor) 1, Mt Maunganui (Andrew Roy/Sam Shergold/Cameron Witney) 2, Lyall Bay (Ryan Cox/Trent Luke/Tyler Maxwell) 3.

Boat Race (Short Course): Waihi (Carl Glyde/David Grant/Tommy Gwilym/Jack Kingsford/Luke Kingsford/Dan Harris) 1, Titahi Bay (Isaac Cleland/Jamie Devitt/Shane Ellis/Arwyn Wil McDowell) 2, Red Beach (Matt Dillon/Joshua Everitt/Matthew Hanson/Nicholas Teesdale/Craig Dillon) 3.

Boat Race (Long Course): Waihi (Carl Glyde/David Grant/Tommy Gwilym/Jack Kingsford/Luke Kingsford/Dan Harris) 1, Titahi Bay (Isaac Cleland/Jamie Devitt/Shane Ellis/Arwyn Wil McDowell) 2, Red Beach (Matt Dillon/Joshua Everitt/Matthew Hanson/Nicholas Teesdale/Craig Dillon) 3.

Canoe Race (Short Course): Whakatane (Matthew Craig/Deane Faber/Ryan Wesche/Paraone Muru/Ashley Roozendaal) 1, Mairangi Bay (Samuel Fraser/Kostya Selezney/James Slessor-White/Hal Treves) 2, Ocean Beach Kiwi (Jacob Crawley/Jarrod Forde/Mitch Glasgow/Kieran Kruger) 3.

Canoe Race (Long Course): Waikanae (Henry Ellingham/Jarrod Fitzgerald/Patrick Looney/Nick Te Puni) 1, Whakatane (Matthew Craig/Deane Faber/Ryan Wesche/Paraone Muru/Ashley Roozendaal) 2, Midway (Toa Halafihi/Jonte Lexmond/Jake Holmes/Jared Proffit) 3.

Under-19 Women

Surf Race: Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 1, Carina Doyle (St Clair) 2, Dannielle O'Connor (Omanu) 3.

Tube Rescue: Jemma Torrie/Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Lauren Bailey/Georgia Lloyd (Red Beach) 2, Dayne Lawton/Tayla Radovanovich (Paekakariki) 3.

Ski Race: Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 2, Rebecca Cole (Fitzroy) 3.

Ski Relay: Red Beach (Briar McLeely/Lauren Bailey/Georgia Lloyd) 1, Fitzroy (Rebecca Cole/Jerusa Lambert-Fahy/Sarah Wilson) 2, South Brighton (Danielle Currie/Samantha Holland/Alysha Wilson) 3.

Double Ski: Rebecca Cole/Sarah Wilson (Fitzroy) 1, Megan Beattie/Aimee Fisher (Ocean Beach Kiwi) 2, Ashley Cochrane/Siobhan Wright (Omanu Beach) 3.

Board Race: Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 1, George Lloyd (Red Beach) 2, Cara Ryan (Mt Maunganui) 3.

Ironman: Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 2, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 3.

Taplin Relay: Papamoa (Natalie Peat/Kathryn Stewart/Nicole Van Der Kaay) 1, Omanu (Ashley Cochrane/Dannielle O'Connor/Siobhan) 2, Midway (Jemma Torrie/Devon Halligan/Dallas Parkinson) 3.

Canoe Race (Short Course): Waikanae (Ashleigh Brown/Sara Haden/Kim Thompson/Eve Pinfold) 1, United North Piha (Danielle Fuemana/Kayla Fuemana/Ellie Jeurissen) 2, Waimairi (Louise Herring/Jade Jeffery/Caitlin Ruddle-McBain/Caitlin Jeurissen) 3.

Canoe Race (Long Course): Waikanae (Ashleigh Brown/Sara Haden/Kim Thompson/Eve Pinfold) 1, United North Piha Blue (Danielle Fuemana/Kayla Fuemana/Ellie Jeurissen) 2, United North Piha Gold (Yvonne Abel/Emily Jenkins/Frances O'Rourke/Grace Joseph) 3.

Under-16 Men

Surf Race: Cameron Hayes (Mt Maunganui) 1, Matthew Scott (Midway) 2, Ben Cochrane (Omanu) 3.

Tube Rescue: Daniel Hart/Ben Johnston (Papamoa) 1, Jamie Mowat/Andrew Trembath (St Clair) 2, Mitchell Griffiths/Matthew Scott (Midway) 3.

Ski Race: Brad Wiley (Mt Maunganui) 1, Taris Harker (Papamoa) 2, Jarrod Olsen (Orewa) 3.

Board Race: Mathew Stewart (Papamoa) 1, Ben Johnston (Papamoa) 2, Daniel Hart (Papamoa) 3.

Ironman: Ben Cochrane (Omanu) 1, Ben Johnston (Papamoa) 2, Andrew Trembath (St Clair) 3.

Taplin Relay: Mt Maunganui (Cameron Hayes/Matthew Hyde/Brad Wiley) 1, Mt Maunganui (Perry Farrell/Andre Lee/Sam Roy) 2, Midway (Mitchell Griffiths/Tayler Reid/Matthew Scott) 3.

Under-16 Women

Surf Race: Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 1, Nicola Trott (Paekakariki) 2, Ariana Moffatt (Papamoa) 3.

Tube Rescue: Kelsi Boocock/Courtney Spencer (Red Beach) 1, Grace Eglington/Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 2, Georgia Burke/Kyrste Barton (Midway) 3.

Ski Race: Briar McLeely (Red Beach) 1, Rebecca Cole (Fitzroy) 2, Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 3.

Board Race: Jasmine Smith (Wainui) 1, Katherine Wilson (Mt Maunganui) 2, Karly Maxwell (Lyall Bay) 3.

Diamond Lady: Katherine Wilson (Mt Maunganui) 1, Hayley Cox (Lyall Bay) 2, Georgia Harris (Wainui) 3.

Taplin Relay: Mt Maunganui (Jessica Miller/Melissa Ryan/Katherine Wilson) 1, Paekakariki (Jonti Cullen/Nicola Trott/McKenzie Radovanovich) 2, Westshore (Lily Adsett/Olivia Cox/Shea Jefferson) 3.

Points (Allan Gardner Trophy)

Midway 102.5 1, Mt Maunganui 98 2, Papamoa 89 3, Red Beach 58 4, Mairangi Bay 52 5, Piha 35 6, Lyall Bay 33 7, New Plymouth Old Boys 31 8, Ocean Beach Kiwi 27 9, Waikanae 26 10, Orewa 25 11, St Clair 24 12, Wainui 21.5 13, Westshore and Fitzroy 19 each 14 equal, Omanu and Titahi Bay 18 each 16 equal, South Brighton 15 18, Waimairi 11 19, Waihi and Muriwai 10 each 20 equal, Paekakariki 9 22, Taylor Mistake and Whakatane 8 each 23 equal, United North Piha and East End 7 each 25 equal, New Brighton, Bethells Beach and Whangamata 5 each 27 equal, North Beach and Sumner 1 each 30 equal.