Papamoa's extraordinary youth team finished in style at the Rescue 2014 world surf lifesaving championships, winning the overall title after another successful day in the pool in Montpelier, France.
Andrew Trembath won the 100m manikin carry with fins, with teammate Jake Hales second, and the pair combined with Ben Johnston and Scott Miller to win the rescue medley relay. Johnston added silver in the 50m manikin carry without fins.
Mount Maunganui's open taplin team, the fourth best in the world, with Sam Shergold, Adam Simpson, Hamish Treanor and Andrew Newton. Photo: Barbara Newton.
It was the ideal finish to a magnificent Kiwi campaign, with New Zealand's open competitors also getting in on the act on the final day.
A week after grabbing gold in the national teams event, Chanel Hickman - representing her Australian club Currumbin - nabbed a second title in the world interclub beach flags, beating Gabrielle Murphy (City of Perth) in the final run. Kendall Elliott (Mount Maunganui) finished eighth.
Gisborne's Cory Taylor picked up one of the most important bronze medals of his career, finishing third in the Oceanman final.
Multiple world champion Shannon Eckstein picked up another title, heading home Mooloolaba's Matt Bevilacqua, but Taylor's board and ski strength helped him home ahead of a host of top Australian ironman talent. His New Zealand teammate Max Beattie was fifth.
Taylor and Beattie combined to finish fourth in the board rescue, with Kiwi Nick Malcolm and Surfers Paradise clubmate Leon Zagel winning silver.
The Oceanwoman race was won by Kristyl Smith from Northcliffe teammates Rebecca Creedy and Courtney Hancock, although young Papamoa star Natalie Peat finished a meritorious eighth.
The tiny Riversdale club in Wairarapa even had its moment to shine on the world stage, with Palmerston North-based Murdoch Finch grabbing bronze in the beach flags.
Finch was agonisingly close to upsetting eventual winner Ben Mispelhorn (Kurrawa) and finished one place ahead of another Kiwi, Midway's Connor O'Loughlin.
Eckstein then led Northcliffe to the event-ending Oceanman relay title, combining with Dev Lahey, Nick Gale and Cory Hill, although Mount Maunganui's Sam Shergold, Andrew Newton, Hamish Treanor and Adam Simpson finished fourth behind Mooloolaba and Bronte.
Papamoa's Michael Bryant, Seth Merrett, Kodi Harman and Danny Hart were ninth, after Hart backed up from his gutsy 14th in the open Oceanman.
Papamoa's rescue medley-winning youth team of Jake Hales, Ben Johnston, Andrew Trembath and Scott Miller. Photo: Ange Johnston.
1 comment
Magnificent Accolade!
Posted on 29-09-2014 12:03 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore
Team Papamoa,.... Where can we start? Thank You! Not only for each of who puts their life on the line protecting people on our beaches through the summers, but each if you and your supporters who dedicate precious spare time to training, competing, qualifying, and then representing our fine town and our mighty country at such prestigious World Events. The individual efforts are immense, and not unrecognized through our community! Omanu, and Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Clubs are also recognized for their excellent results - individual, national and club. It's a mighty, all-eclipsing performance delivered to the World Stage by the three clubs of the City if Tauranga, New Zealand! Tauranga can be do proud of these fine athletes! A Civic Reception must now be seriously considered to recognize these athletes on their home soil! Thanks Teams! Bill Gibson-Patmore
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