Flying Finish For Black Fins

Flying Finish For Black Fins

Midway’s Chris Dawson has been crowned world champion in the pool at the Surf Lifesaving World Championships in Riccione, Italy.

Dawson and his Black Fins teammate, and close friend, Mairangi Bay’s Steve Kent took out first and second in the men’s 100m manikin carry on the final day at the pool for the open competition.

“It was a stunning swim from both of them,” Surf Lifesaving New Zealand high performance manager Tanya Hamilton says.

“After Steve’s New Zealand record in the heats to see them go one and two in the final was amazing.

“It really is the best way to finish the pool campaign.”

Kent set a new New Zealand record in the heats, going very close to the world record at the same time and claiming top seed for the final with Dawson booking his lane as fourth qualifier. In the final it was Dawson’s turn to show off his class edging his teammate by just 0.36 and also going incredibly close to Kent’s record time from the morning.  The Kiwi team kicked off their medal haul for the day with a bronze in the 100m rescue medley earlier in the session for Mairangi Bay’s Fergus Eadie with Kent picking up fifth in a tightly fought race.

For the women, Molly Shivnan was seventh in the B final of the 100m rescue medley, Madi Kidd and Nat Peat were first and second in the 100m manikin carry B final. In the final event of the day, the 4x50m mixed Lifesaver relay the Kiwi team - Dawson, Eadie, Peat and Kidd – finished in third spot in another closely fought race but were disqualified.

After day three the Black Fins sit in third spot on the points table behind Australia in first and Germany in second.

The Black Fins now turn their attention to the beach as their world championships campaign continues.

Golden Glow For Gus

New Zealand’s Gus Shivnan is the latest Junior Black Fin world champion to be crowned at the beach in Riccione, Italy.  Shivnan stormed to victory on the final day of beach events at the Surf Lifesaving World Championships ahead of Australia’s Riley and Callum Brennan.

In the typically flat conditions in Riccione, Shivnan’s victory was a slogfest between the top swimmers on the day, with the Omanu youngster emerging from the water narrowly ahead for the run up the beach to claim the gold medal.

“Gus has had a huge last few months,” Surf Lifesaving New Zealand’s high performance manager Tanya Hamilton says.

“He’s represented New Zealand for waterpolo, swimming and now surf lifesaving. To win gold on the last day at the beach is brilliant and is a real reward for the work he has done.”

In the first event of the day, Summer Rolston finished fourth in the women’s ski race with Australia’s Lily O’Sullivan and Claudia Bailey finishing first and second.  After an impressive beach campaign the team’s co-captain Lachie Falloon added a bronze medal to the Junior Black Fins’ tally in the men’s board race behind Australia’s Ryan Green and Jake Morris.  Lucy Bartlett was fourth in the women’s surf race with Zoe Crawford finishing sixth.

And in the final event of the day, the mixed Ocean Lifesaver relay final the Junior Black Fins team, Shivnan, Charlize Menefy, Rolston and Oska Smith, picked up another silver medal.

That concludes the junior teams’ beach campaign and they move to the pool for the next three days to continue to battle for the overall title.  And after day three’s success the Junior Black Fins have jumped to second on the overall points table with Australia leading in top spot.

“The team has done very well so far,” Hamilton says.  “It’s exciting to see them head to the pool events now, we’re looking forward to seeing their campaign continue.”