Four NZ records and a pool championship trophy for Black Fins at halfway mark

Four new New Zealand records contributed to the making of history overnight as the Black Fins took out the 2016 Lifesaving World Championship pool trophy in Eindhoven.

Traditionally stronger in the beach events, it's the first time New Zealand has taken out the overall win in the pool.

Wainui's Laura Quilter set the bar high heading into the finals on Day Three of the national teams' competition at Rescue 2016 taking silver in the women's 100m Manikin Carry with a time of 53.21- a new NZ record.

In similar fashion, Titahi Bay's Steve Kent also took silver and set a new NZ record in the men's 100m Manikin Carry with a time of 45.98.

The third record came from team captain Andy McMillan in the men's 50m Manikin Carry with the fourth from the men's 4x25m Manikin Carry, breaking their own record from the heats.

Other highlights came from Quilter who took world championship gold in the women's 50m Manikin Carry with Samantha Lee close behind to take the bronze.

A proud moment came from Kent who, in his fifth world championships, is the first athlete in Worlds history to make A finals in six individual events and all of the relays.

Black Fins coach Jason Pocock says he's absolutely proud to be involved with this team.

The times over the last two days in the pool have really take a step up and they have been able to stay at the front of the progression, he says.

"A massive thanks to those that have helped out with the pool program especially video analyst Dan Grant and specialist coaches Scott Bartlett, Dean Kent and Michael Buck."

Mr Pocock says some of the day's highlights included Quilter's gold and silver and the two men's relay teams but special mention has to go to Kent's history making. "He is an absolute unit and one very special athlete," he says.

That caps off the pool events for the New Zealand Black Fins who will now turn their focus to recovery and strategy with a rest day on Friday before moving onto another two days of beach events in Noordwijk from Saturday night (NZ time).

The Kiwis have held on to their lead in the overall standings on 455 points ahead of Italy on 388 and France on 371. Australia and Germany round out the top five.

The Junior Black Fins also had a big day on what was their second and final day on the beach in Noordwijk before moving to the pool.

They claimed another eight medals between them including three silver and five bronze.

They are still in second place overall on 437 points behind Australia with 509 with France moving into third with 298 points.

Coach Jonelle Quane says the day's breakthrough performance came from Jamie Gedye in the Bleach Flags, with a very tight tussle for third place.

"Team captain Hamish Miller led the team from every possible angle and was relentless. His performances resulted in two individual bronze medals in the men's Board Race, Oceanman Race and part of our Silver Medal Oceanman Relay team with Seb Johnson, Lewis Clareburt and Zac Reid," she says.

Vice-Captain Hannah Williams also lead by example, taking silver in the women's Ski final with fellow team mate Grace Kaihau storming home to claim the bronze medal.

Hannah then claimed bronze in the Oceanwomen's Race and rounded out the day with a silver in the Oceanwomen's Relay with team members Grace Kaihau, Libby Bradley and Olivia Corrin.

"We have been fortunate to have had two amazing days of warm, sunny weather on the beach with off shore flat conditions over the two days," Jonelle says.

The team will now make their way from the beach in Noordwijk to the Pieter van den Hoogenband arena in Eindhoven to begin pool racing on Saturday.

The biannual World Lifesaving Championships is the blockbuster event for lifesavers around the world. With several thousand competitors taking part, it is the largest international lifesaving sport competition in the world. All the events are based around rescue capability and are specific to saving people's lives.

The Black Fins are aiming to take out the national teams' title for the third time in a row after first prising the title from Australia in Adelaide in 2012 and again in France in 2014.

Follow our national teams on Facebook at www.facbook.com/slsnzhp for results, updates and photos throughout the event. Click here for yesterday's results.

For full results, please visit http://livetiming.lifesaving2016.com/

Day Three results

Black Fins

100m Manikin Carry
Men: Steve Kent 2nd (45.98- NZ record), Chris Dawson 6th (47.51)
Women: Laura Quilter 2nd (53.21- NZ record), Natalie Peat 5th (54.51)

50m Manikin Carry
Men: Andy McMillan 2nd (28.94- NZ record), Steve Kent 7th (31.47)
Women: Laura Quilter 1st (34.16), Samantha Lee 3rd (35.14)

4x25m Manikin Relay
Men: Andy McMillan, Steve Kent, Max Beattie, Chris Dawson, 4th (1.07.94) - NZ record
Women: Samantha Lee, Laura Quilter, Natalie Peat and Devon Halligan, 7th (1.22.97)

Super Lifesaver
Men: Steve Kent 5th (2.11.87), Chris Dawson 8th (2.20.40)

Rescue Medley
Men: Cory Taylor, Andy McMillan, Chris Dawson, Steve Kent, 5th (1.29.27)
Women: Samantha Lee, Devon Halligan, Natalie Peat, Laura Quilter, 7th (1.43.26)

Junior Black Fins

Surf Ski
Women: Hannah Williams 2nd, Grace Kaihau 3rd

Board race
Men: Hamish Miller 3rd, Seb Johnson 5th

Beach flags
Women: Jamie Gedye 3rd
Men: Hamish Miller 12th

Oceanman: Hamish Miller 3rd, Dan Barron 7th
Oceanwomen: Hannah Williams 3rd, Grace Kaihau 4th

Oceanman Relay: Hamish Miller, Seb Johnson, Lewis Clareburt, Zac Reid, 2nd
Oceanwomen Relay: Hannah Williams, Grace Kaihau, Olivia Corrin, Jamie Gedye, 2nd

Black Fins

Andrew McMillan- St Clair (captain)
Steven Kent- Titahi Bay
Max Beattie- Omanu
Cory Taylor- Midway
Paul Cracroft-Wilson- Fitzroy
Chris Dawson- Midway
Samantha Lee- Lyall Bay
Laura Quilter- Wainui
Danielle McKenzie- Mairangi Bay
Devon Halligan- Omanu
Natalie Peat- Papamoa
Olivia Eaton- Mt Maunganui

Coach: Jason Pocock
Assistant coach: Steven Ferguson
Technical Support Coach: Brett Robinson
Manager: Mark Weatherall
Assistant Manager: Steve Vaughan
Physio: Susan Pirret

Junior Black Fins

Alaynah Bettany - Lyall Bay
Grace Kaihau - Orewa
Hannah Williams - Piha
Jamie Gedye - Waikanae
Libby Bradley - Mt Maunganui
Olivia Corrin - Midway
Hamish Miller - Mt Maunganui
Lewis Clareburt - Lyall Bay
Javon McCallum - Fitzroy
Daniel Barron - Mt Maunganui
Seb Johnson - Sumner
Zac Reid - Fitzroy

Coach: Jonelle Quane
Assistant Coach: Matt Sutton
Manager: Ange Johnston
Physiotherapist: Mike Ellis

The New Zealand Black Fins win the Lifesaving World Championship pool trophy.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz