Beattie grabs third NZ surf ironman crown

Max Beattie claimed his third national ironman title in familiar style at the Aquapick New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne today.

The Gold Coast-based Omanu star edged his New Zealand teammate and defending champion Cory Taylor by mere inches after a dramatic final sprint on Midway Beach, continuing a growing trend of tight finishes between the pair.

Beattie, the cousin of New Zealand 100m track star Joseph Millar, won his first title in 2012 in exactly the same fashion, then pipped Taylor in the 25km Mount Monster endurance race just before Christmas.

"I guess I've got some aunts and uncles to thank for my speed because Cory and I have definitely got into the habit of sprint-finishes lately," a jubilant Beattie said.  "He's an phenomenal ironman and probably nearly deserved the win today himself but I jumped onto a runner on that final ski leg and tried to slow my breathing and heart-rate down a little because I knew it was going to end up in a foot-race."

Despite the looming threat of the remnants of Cyclone Pam, there was little in the way of wave assistance on the final day, with Taylor, Beattie and Australian Tanyn Lyndon locked in a battle throughout the opening board leg and into the swim.

Taylor appeared to make his decisive move in the ski leg, before Beattie summoned one last burst to draw level heading into the beach.

"I didn't know if it was Max or Tanyn coming for me at the end but then I saw the yellow tip of Max's ski edge into view and just thought 'here we go again'," Midway's Taylor said. "I'm obviously a bit disappointed but I was happy with how the race went."

Another Australian, Kristyl Smith, took out the ironwoman final, after a strong swim leg took her out in front of Kiwis Devon Halligan and Danielle McKenzie.  Halligan claimed the New Zealand title ahead of McKenzie, although Smith was wary of a quality field.

"The competition has been awesome and I've really had to put my head down in each race," Smith said.  "Natalie Peat is on fire, Devon's going great and Danielle McKenzie is the best board paddler in the world at the moment, while I've had a couple of really close battles with Devon over the years, so it was great to come out on top."

Halligan won the board race, out-sprinting Smith and McKenzie, while Papamoa's Peat won the surf race.

The undoubted female star of the carnival, however, was one of the youngest athletes competing. Midway's Olivia Corrin, at just 14, walked away with 10 gold medals from the three days, including a gold in the open board relay and a bronze in the open board rescue with Halligan.

She should've added the under-16 diamond lady crown to that extensive list but was disqualified yesterday after her handler forgot to wear a club cap.

New Zealand selectors, who later added her to the national development squad, requested she be allowed to race the final and she promptly won, though the title went to second-placed finisher  Grace Kaihau (Orewa).

"I wasn't sure about going into the final after getting DQ'ed yesterday - I knew I wouldn't be racing for a medal but I raced to know where I stood in the field," Corrin explained. "(Midway surf legend) Benny Hutchings told me it would be like candy without the wrapper - I could win the race but not get the silverware to prove it, but at least I'd know what I was capable of.  Plus there's always next time."

Beattie also claimed the board race title, while Titahi Bay kayaker Marty McDowell collected his fourth open men's ski title, pulling away from Mairangi Bay pair Kevin Morrison and Travis Mitchell.

"I tried for a long time to win this race and it took a while but now I've got a taste for it - I'm really looking forward to getting back and having another go next year," McDowell said.

Arch-rivals Piha and Titahi Bay shared the spoils in the open men's surf boat arena, although Titahi Bay ended a five-year drought by winning the feature long-course final, ending Piha's four-year domination.

"It means so much - it's just been too long between titles for Titahi Bay," Titahi Bay's Chris Middleton said. "It's just unreal and an incredible feeling, especially to beat Piha in a close race like that.  They've had an amazing streak and even though we're fierce rivals, we seem to bring the best out in each other."

Piha won their fifth short-course final in the last six years, however, and had further consolation in the open women's long-course final, where their top crew beat home Red Beach and Muriwai.

Mount Maunganui's overall domination continued, as the Bay of Plenty club finished on a massive 213 points, more than double that of second-placed Midway (104), with Mairangi Bay third on 70.

Their final-day tally was boosted by winning the open men's taplin and dominating the under-16 boys arena, where young stars Hamish Miller, Daniel Barron, Isaac Marshall and Morgan Brocklesby seemed to lead a yellow and black tide.

Mount also won three titles in the canoe arena, including a double for the under-19 men, while Jess Miller and Charlie Haynes added individual under-19 wins.

Omanu's Max Beattie (left) outsprints Midway's Cory Taylor to win his third national ironman crown at the Aquapick New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne today.  Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Midway's Olivia Corrin won an incredible 10 titles at the Aquapick New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne.  Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Results Day 3:

Open Men

Surf Race. Chris Dawson (Midway) 1, Max Beattie (Omanu) 2, Adam Simpson (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Board Race. Max Beattie (Omanu) 1, Cory Taylor (Midway) 2, Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliff, Queensland) 3, Andrew Newton (Mt Maunganui) 4. 

Ski Race. Martyn McDowell (Titahi Bay) 1, Kevin Morrison (Mairangi Bay) 2, Travis Mitchell (Mairangi Bay) 3. 

Ironman. Max Beattie (Omanu) 1, Cory Taylor (Midway) 2, Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliff, Queensland) 3, Adam Simpson (Mt Maunganui) 4. 

Taplin Relay. Mt Maunganui (Cooper Halligan/Andrew Newton/Andrew Roy/Sam Shergold/Adam Simpson/Kane Sefton) 1, Mairangi Bay (Scott Fairbairn/Henry Wiseman/George Hunter/Michael Lee/Travis Mitchell/Kevin Morrison) 2, Midway (Chris Dawson/Matthew Scott/Phillip Mills/Samuel Newlands/Cory Taylor/Dylan Pahina) 3. 

2km Run. Nick Berry (Piha) 1, Haydn Reardon (Mt Maunganui) 2, Dylan Pahina (Midway) 3. 

Boat (Short Course). Piha (Paul Gerritsen/Benjamin Richards/Ben Scott/Jean-Paul Smit/Ludovik Bourneville/Mark Bourneville) 1, Muriwai (Thomas Belgrave/Liam McMaster/Jacob Pemberton/Joseph Sullivan/Chris Deacon) 2, Orewa (Jake Griffiths/Christopher McCarthny/John McCarthny/William Seedhouse/Mark McCarthny) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Titahi Bay (Jono Boyd/Brett Hamer/Chris Middleton/Jordan Te Paa/Tim Marsden/Wil McDowell) 1, Piha (Paul Gerritsen/Benjamin Richards/Ben Scott/Jean-Paul Smit/Ludovik Bourneville/Mark Bourneville) 2, Red Beach (Ryan Davenport/Charles Graham/Shamus O'Halloran/Jed Wright/Shane O'Halloran) 3. 

Canoe (Short Course). Waikanae (Alex Bristow/Quaid Thompson/Darryl Fitzgerald/Jarrod Fitzgerald) 1, Waimairi (Mark Cresswell/Daniel Firth/Carl Righton/Greg Shea) 2, Lyall Bay (John Elsmore/James Flannery/Matt Flannery/Craig Jones) 3. 

Canoe (Long Course). Waimairi (Mark Cresswell/Daniel Firth/Carl Righton/Greg Shea) 1, Lyall Bay (John Elsmore/James Flannery/Matt Flannery/Craig Jones) 2, Mt Maunganui (Michael Waide/Damian Munro/Philip Pirie/Andrew Roy) 3. 

Open Women

Surf Race. Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 1, Kristyl Smith (Northcliff, Queensland) 2, Carina Doyle (St Clair) 3, Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 4. 

Board Race. Devon Halligan (Midway) 1, Kristyl Smith (Northcliff, Queensland) 2, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 3, Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 4. 

Ironman. Kristyl Smith (Northcliff, Queensland) 1, Devon Halligan (Midway) 2, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 3, Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 4. 

Taplin Relays. Mairangi Bay (Madison Boon/Rachael Dodwell/Danielle McKenzie) 1, Midway (Devon Halligan/Olivia Corrin/Emily Willock) 2, Papamoa (Maia Bryant/Natalie Peat/Ariana Moffatt) 3. 

2km Run. Michelle Rennie (Waikanae) 1, Lauren Bailey (Red Beach) 2, Hannah Sturmer (East End 3. 

Boat (Short Course). Muriwai (Anamaria Clarke/Alison Craigie/Ellie David/Sophie Rowland/Ricky Butt) 1, Red Beach (Kelly Andrew/Katrina Gouldstone/Ashleigh Jenkins/Madison Smith/Zita Talaic-Burgess/Shane O'Halloran) 2, Piha (Jo Fyfe/Charlotte Haskell/Annelies Visser/Gracey Monteith/Mark Bourneville) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Piha (Jo Fyfe/Charlotte Haskell/Annelies Visser/Gracey Monteith/Mark Bourneville) 1, Red Beach (Kelly Andrew/Katrina Gouldstone/Ashleigh Jenkins/Madison Smith/Zita Talaic-Burgess/Shane O'Halloran) 2, Muriwai (Anamaria Clarke/Alison Craigie/Ellie David/Sophie Rowland/Ricky Butt) 3. 

Canoe (Long Course). Wainui (Vesna Radonich/Rachael Williams/Bayleigh Harrison/Courtenay Waikari) 1, Waikanae (Alicia Hoskin/Courtney Hoskin/Tayla Lum/Kim Thompson) 2, Whakatane Fab 4 (Marnie Fornusek/Annette Hahipene/Laura Madritsch/Carman Wilson-Holder) 3. 

Canoe (Short Course). Mt Maunganui (Kendall Elliott/Katrina Madill/Brooklyn Reardon-Nikara/Brooke Shergold/Johana Harel) 1, Waimairi White (Madeline Dawe/Michelle Hendrie/Jade Jeffery/Caitlin Ruddle-McBain) 2, Wainui (Vesna Radonich/Rachael Williams/Bayleigh Harrison/Courtenay Waikari) 3. 

Open

Mixed Double Ski. Mairangi Bay B (Rachael Dodwell/Michael Lee) 1, Ocean Beach Kiwi (Anne Cairns/Scott Bicknell) 2, Mairangi Bay A (Danielle McKenzie/Travis Mitchell) 3. 

U23 Men

Boat (Short Course). Waihi (David Grant/Jack Kingsford/Luke Kingsford/Morgan Sloog/Joshua Foster) 1, Rarangi (Michael Boo/Matt Jackson/Joseph Leper/Keagen Saul/Neil Watts) 2, Red Beach (Max Anstis/Rhye Jacka/Luke Tomlinson/Brendan Herbst/Kyle Lennon/Shane O'Halloran) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Waihi (David Grant/Jack Kingsford/Luke Kingsford/Morgan Sloog/Joshua Foster) 1, Rarangi (Michael Boo/Matt Jackson/Joseph Leper/Keagen Saul/Neil Watts) 2, Red Beach (Max Anstis/Rhye Jacka/Luke Tomlinson/Brendan Herbst/Kyle Lennon/Shane O'Halloran) 3. 

U23 Women

Boat (Short Course). Muriwai Muzzies (Andrea Gerrard/Billie-Lee Haresnape/Ashley Timoko/Emma Wilson/Chris Deacon) 1, New Brighton Honey Beez (Becky Hix/Ilia Lindsay/Carla Linton/Janelle Trask/Fiona Virtue/Mathew Zainey) 2, Titahi Bay Tim Tams (Grace Goodall/Anna Hermansson/Georgia McLean/Tessa McPherson/Tim Marsden) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Muriwai Muzzies (Andrea Gerrard/Billie-Lee Haresnape/Ashley Timoko/Emma Wilson/Chris Deacon) 1, New Brighton Honey Beez (Becky Hix/Ilia Lindsay/Carla Linton/Janelle Trask/Fiona Virtue/Mathew Zainey) 2, Orewa Stars (Rachel Hellescoe/Alysha Nesbit/Danielle Shrubsall/Sasha Ballantyne/Mark McCarthny) 3. 

U19 Men

2km Run. 

Double Ski. Tayler Reid (Midway) 1, Finn Mason (Whangamata) 2, Jordan Balk (Spencer Park) 3. 

Board Race. Ben Johnston (Papamoa) 1, James Scott (Orewa) 2, Perry Farrell (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Ironman. Charles Haynes (Mt Maunganui) 1, Ben Cochrane (Omanu) 2, Matthew Scott (Midway) 3. 

Taplin Relay. Papamoa Green (Daniel Hart/Ben Johnston/Ethan Clouston) 1, Mt Maunganui B (Cameron Hayes/Charlie Haynes/Brad Wiley) 2, Mt Maunganui A (Perry Farrell/Sam Roy/Kane Sefton) 3. 

Boat (Short Course). Whangamata Barrys (Brandon Dromgool/Josh Kerridge/Sam Stockley/Lyndon Vickers/Andrew Jujnovich) 1, Waihi Chiefs (Marc Everson/Matthew Hart/Tate van Duyvenbooden/Nicholas Wagstaff/Jack Kingsford) 2, Sunset Beach (Jack Boulton/Ryan Brash/Samuel Hughes/Carl Morgan/Jack Morgan/Ted Marsh) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Whangamata Barrys (Brandon Dromgool/Josh Kerridge/Sam Stockley/Lyndon Vickers/Andrew Jujnovich) 1, Waihi Chiefs (Marc Everson/Matthew Hart/Tate van Duyvenbooden/Nicholas Wagstaff/Jack Kingsford) 2, Red Beach Doom Squad (Callum Blackburn/Douglas Burfoot/Alexander Cassidy/Tamati Munro/Benjamin Partridge/Jackson Smith/Michael Smith) 3. 

Canoe (Short Course). Mt Maunganui (Dylan Williams/Cameron Hayes/Sam Roy/Brad Wiley/Nicholas Wilson) 1, Waimairi Blue (Michael Hodgson/Bailey Laughton/Tristen Read/Jackson Smith) 2, Brighton Gold (Jamie Harrison/Jordan Lennon/Blake Porteous/Tomas Woodford-Webb) 3.

Canoe (Long Course). Mt Maunganui (Dylan Williams/Cameron Hayes/Sam Roy/Brad Wiley/Nicholas Wilson) 1, Omanu (Taris Harker/Timothy Waller/Samuel Groot/Joshua Jarvis/Fergus Kirk/Campbell Reid) 2, Brighton Gold (Jamie Harrison/Jordan Lennon/Blake Porteous/Tomas Woodford-Webb) 3. 

U19 Women

Surf Race. Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 1, Kelsi Boocock (Red Beach) 2, Emma Godwin (Waikanae) 3. 

Board Race. Jasmine Smith (Wainui) 1, Hannah Williams (Piha) 2, Katie Wilson (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Ironman. Hannah Williams (Piha) 1, Jessica Miller (Mt Maunganui) 2, Katie Wilson (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Taplin Relay. Mt Maunganui B (Adriana Bird/Grace Eglington/Katie Wilson) 1, Mt Maunganui A (Jessica Miller/Amy Barron/Jessica Gadsbey) 2, Red Beach (Kelsi Boocock/Briar McLeely/Rebecca Pearce) 3. 

2km Run. Lydia Johnson (Sth Brighton) 1, Yvette Kingsford (Waihi) 2, Daisy McElwain (Paekakariki) 3. 

Boat (Short Course). Muriwai Minis (Danielle Ford/Emily Hortop/Grace Joseph/Lucy Kelly/Chris Deacon) 1, Red Beach Blakeys Angels (Jessica Cornish/Georgia Cox/Tyler McDowall/Briana Smith/Craig Dillon) 2, Titahi Bay Tigers (Sinead Clark/Jessica Cleland/Suzy Ellis/Tracey Mills/Tim Marsden) 3. 

Boat (Long Course). Muriwai Minis (Danielle Ford/Emily Hortop/Grace Joseph/Lucy Kelly/Chris Deacon) 1, Titahi Bay Tigers (Sinead Clark/Jessica Cleland/Suzy Ellis/Tracey Mills/Tim Marsden) 2, Red Beach Blakeys Angels (Jessica Cornish/Georgia Cox/Tyler McDowall/Briana Smith/Craig Dillon) 3. 

Canoe (Short Course). Waimairi White (Rachael Cleeve/Louise Herring/Darnay Read/Abbey Stokes) 1, Waikanae B (Alicia Hoskin/Courtney Hoskin/Tayla Lum/Kim Thompson) 2, Waikanae A (Ella Andrew/Georgia Donnelly/Jessie Egan/Lucy Mossman) 3. 

Canoe (Long Course). Waikanae B (Alicia Hoskin/Courtney Hoskin/Tayla Lum/Kim Thompson) 1, Waimairi White (Rachael Cleeve/Louise Herring/Darnay Read/Abbey Stokes) 2, Opotiki (Lilly Fell/Tynealle Fitzgerald/Summer Hurrell/Lia Seufert/Danielle Fitzgerald) 3. 

U16 Men

Surf Race. Bayden Botha (Mairangi Bay) 1, Zac Reid (Fitzroy) 2, Lewis Clareburt (Lyall Bay) 3. 

Board Race. Mitch Cowdrey (Papamoa) 1, Seb Johnson (Sumner) 2, Daniel Barron (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Ski Race. Dylan Williams (Mt Maunganui) 1, Ethan Moore (Paekakariki) 2, Nathan Wolf (St Clair) 3. 

Ironman. Hamish Miller (Mt Maunganui) 1, Daniel Barron (Mt Maunganui) 2, Isaac Marshall (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Taplin Relay. Mt Maunganui A (Isaac Marshall/Hamish Miller/Dylan Williams) 1, Mt Maunganui B (Daniel Barron/Morgan Brockelsby/Lochlainn O'Connor) 2, Sumner (Reuben Godfrey/Seb Johnson/Jake Koekemoer) 3. 

2km Run. Hamish Miller (Mt Maunganui) 1, Josiah Ney (Midway) 2, Reeftahn Brown-Terekia (Midway) 3. 

U16 Women

Surf Race. Olivia Corrin (Midway) 1, Libby Bradley (Mt Maunganui) 2, Aimee Daniels (NPOB) 3. 

Board Race. Olivia Corrin (Midway) 1, Grace Kaihau (Orewa) 2, Libby Bradley (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Ski Race. Samalulu Clifton (Muriwai) 1, Maia Bryant (Papamoa) 2, Kirby Scammell (Midway) 3. 

Diamond Lady. Grace Kaihau (Orewa) 1, Jessica Blakeman (Midway) 2, Libby Bradley (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Taplin Relay. Midway (Kirby Scammell/Jessica Blakeman/Olivia Corrin) 1, Papamoa (Maia Bryant/Sophie Hayden/Malia Josephson) 2, Omanu (Emma Byrom/Grace Elisara/Ella Pollock) 3. 

2km Run. Olivia Corrin (Midway) 1, Isabella Kelly (East End) 2, Erin Conway (Mt Maunganui) 3. 

Final points (after 3 days):

Mt Maunganui 213, Midway 104, Mairangi Bay 70, Papamoa 67, Piha 54, Fitzroy 47, Waikanae 46, Red Beach 38, Muriwai 32, Omanu 25, Waimairi 22, Waihi 19, Titahi Bay 17, Orewa 16, Whangamata 15, Wainui 15, Paekakariki 13, Lyall Bay 8, Ocean Beach Kiwi 6, Rarangi 6, New Brighton 6, NPOB 5, Taylors Mistake 5, Sth Brighton 5, Sumner 3, East End 3, St Clair 3, Brighton 2, Maranui 2, Riversdale 2, Opotiki 1, Whakatane 1, Spencer Park 1, Sunset Beach 1.