Aussies win key challenge
A HOST of Gold Coast athletes have helped Australia turn in a dominant performance to seal the International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC) in New Zealand.
Many of the biggest names in surf lifesaving, including world ironwoman champion Harriet Brown (Northcliffe), Nutri-Grain series champion Matt Poole (Kurrawa) and Coolangatta Gold winner Ali Day (Surfers Paradise) helped Australia win the seven-nation meet at Mt Maunganui.
Australia beat New Zealand’s Black Fins into second in senior and youth categories in the three-day event which is billed as a warm-up for next year’s world championships.
Several Gold Coast-based Kiwis will be out to prevent New Zealand from retaining their title.
Max Beattie (Surfers), Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe), Olivia Eaton (Currumbin) and Cory Taylor (Northcliffe) were in action for the Kiwis at the weekend, pinching points from their Australian rivals.