Beattie grabs third NZ surf ironman crown

 

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.