Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge ends with final test decider

Australia has taken victory over New Zealand at the annual Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge, held today at Waihi Beach, as part of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's current sport season.

The visiting Australian crew only took the victory after the last of three tests, as New Zealand fought hard to take the win.

The event also doubled as round three of the New Zealand Surf Boat Series (the North Island Surf Boat Championships) which saw Surf Life Saving Clubs from around the country take on each other, and the four visiting Australian teams.

With New Zealand and Australia going head-to-head in three different tests, it was always going to be close. Both teams enjoyed wins but ultimately, Australia won the challenge again after taking the title last year.

While the two nations are fierce rivals, they relish the competition and look forward to meeting again every year.

Meanwhile, in the North Island Championship races, which included the Australian teams, the local teams put up a good fight and made it more difficult for the Australians to win with several event wins. Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club edged out the Aussies in the Open Men's event, while Paekakriki took the win in the U23 Women's race.

The Australian crews took two wins, one in the Open Women's long course (Tallebudgera) and the Under 23 Men's long course (North Cronulla), as well as two second places in the Open Men's long course (Avoca) and U23 Women's long course (Newport).

Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager, Mike Lord, said the event was successful and shows how talented lifeguards are both here and in Australia.

"Every year our athletes look forward to the Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge, and this year certainly didn't disappoint. A huge congratulations to the Australian team for winning this year, although it was fantastic to see the friendly rivalry between us and our Aussie cousins."

"We were also proud to host them here in Waihi Beach. It's a beautiful spot and the weather has been perfect. We're already looking forward to next year, where we hope to take the win."

Lord also wanted to congratulate all the winners in the North Island Surf Boat Championships races, and said they were brilliant competitors.

"I also want to thank all the New Zealand crews who travelled here from around the country, and who put in 110% today. They make the event fantastic."

The action continues tomorrow from 8am at Waihi Beach Surf Life Saving Club, where crews will again tackle various short and long course races in their surf boats. Spectators are welcome and spectator entry to the event is free.

Visit the Surf Life Saving New Zealand High Performance Facebook page for photos and video footage.

Trans-Tasman Points:

Australia 4
New Zealand 2

2017 Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge New Zealand vs Australia:

Test 1
Men Long Course.
AUS (Duke Brierty/John Patterson/Brad Mitchell/Daniel Tamblyn/Richard Brierty) 1, AUS (Zac Hughes/James Budd/Mitchell Bouzounis/Jack Mentha/Adam Purdie) 2, NZ (Sam Stockley/Lyndon Vickers/Josh Kerridge/Brandon Dromgool/Andrew Jujnovich) 3.
Women Long Course.
AUS (Lisa Webber/Kirsty Morrison/Kelissa Brockett/Tara Deaver-Coates/Gary Williams) 1, NZ (Nicole Owen/Kathryn Wright/Jessica Parkin/Alison Craigie/Ricky Butt) 2, AUS (Piret May/Celestine May/Katy Hulton/Zoe King/Michael King) 3.

Test 3
Men Long Course.
NZ (Frano Staub/Daniel Smith/Nathan Keys/Jared Glue/Dean Isherwood) 1, NZ (Sam Stockley/Lyndon Vickers/Josh Kerridge/Brandon Dromgool/Andrew Jujnovich) 2, AUS (Duke Brierty/John Patterson/Brad Mitchell/Daniel Tamblyn/Richard Brierty) 3.
Women Long Course.
AUS (Lisa Webber/Kirsty Morrison/Kelissa Brockett/Tara Deaver-Coates/Gary Williams) 1, NZ (Nicole Owen/Kathryn Wright/Jessica Parkin/Alison Craigie/Ricky Butt) 2, AUS (Piret May/Celestine May/Katy Hulton/Zoe King/Michael King) 3.

Test 2
Men Short Course.
NZ (Sam Stockley/Lyndon Vickers/Josh Kerridge/Brandon Dromgool/Andrew Jujnovich) 1, AUS (Duke Brierty/John Patterson/Brad Mitchell/Daniel Tamblyn/Richard Brierty) 2, AUS (Zac Hughes/James Budd/Mitchell Bouzounis/Jack Mentha/Adam Purdie) 3.
Women Short Course.
NZ (Nicole Owen/Kathryn Wright/Jessica Parkin/Alison Craigie/Ricky Butt) 1, NZ (Grace Joseph/Alexandra Murden/Jaime Gunderson/Dayna Lawton/Danny Tenheuvel) 2, AUS (Piret May/Celestine May/Zoe King/Katy Hulton/Michael King) 3.

2017 North Island Surf Boat Championships:

Surf Boat - Long Course
Masters Mens.
Fitzroy (Calum Park/Richard Coomber/Paul O'Keeffe/Brett Rogers/Mark Luff/Iain McCallum) 1, Westshore (Greig Michael Madden/Peter Scammell/Steve Smithers/Kevin Russell/Aidan Callaghan) 2, Westshore (Jamie Thompson/Jude Minor/Daniel Murfitt/Eric Forster/Aidan Charman) 3.

Masters Womens.
Mairangi Bay (Sally Ayson/Fiona Trevelyan/Julia Reynolds-Smith/Tracy Molloy/Warwick Donnelly) 1.

Open Mens.
Titahi Bay (Chris Middleton/Jono Boyd/Jordan Tyrrell/Kyle Lang/Wil McDowell) 1, AUS (Duke Brierty/John Patterson/Brad Mitchell/Daniel Tamblyn/Richard Brierty) 2, Mairangi Bay (Wayne Simeon/Matt Kirke/Tim Cameron/Adam Jackson/Terrence (terry) Burbidge) 3.

Open Womens.
AUS (Lisa Webber/Kirsty Morrison/Kelissa Brockett/Tara Deaver-Coates/Gary Williams) 1, Muriwai (Nicole Owen/Kathryn Wright/Jessica Parkin/Alison Craigie/Ricky Butt) 2, Paekakariki (Amy Spiekerman/Elyse Robert/Jordan Crosbie/Eleanor Craig/Shane Radovanovich/Netta Cagney) 3.

U23 Mens.
AUS (Zac Hughes/James Budd/Mitchell Bouzounis/Jack Mentha/Adam Purdie) 1, Orewa (Ryan Carrigan/Jasper Ballantyne/Ethan Hutchinson/Callum Thomason/Mark McCarthny) 2, Titahi Bay (Darryn Stapleton/Callum Watts-Pointer/Fraser McLaren/Joe Reid/Brett Hamer) 3.

U23 Womens.
Paekakariki (Jonti Cullen/Nicola Trott/Netta Cagney/Katie Burgess/Shane Radovanovich/Hannah Andrews) 1, AUS (Piret May/Celestine May/Katy Hulton/Zoe King/Michael King) 2, Muriwai (Grace Joseph/Alexandra Murden/Jaime Gunderson/Dayna Lawton/Danny Tenheuvel) 3.

U19 Mens.
Sunset Beach (Flynn Avery/Sebastian Neilands/Sean Oliver/Harrison Fulton/Michael Waldegrave) 1, WGM (Sergio Schuler/Zane Sweetman/Joshua Nicholas/Taine Wilson/Steve Pipe) 2, Piha (Finn McIntyre/Benji Lines/Campbell Harris/Shem Broekhuizen/Rhye Jacka/Joseph Jacob) 3.

U19 Womens.
Waihi Beach (Grace Clare/Katrina Pipe/Sarah Pahlen/Yvette Kingsford/David Grant) 1, Titahi Bay (Luisa Stillwell/Maya Stillwell/Rosie Darrah/Sarah Talbot/Tim Marsden) 2, Orewa (Sarah Hogg/Madeline Fergus/Vanja Joy Franich/Ashleigh Paotama/Mark McCarthny) 3.