Podiums at Mount Monster

Competitors in the big field in the annual Mount Monster endurance lifesaving event at Mt Maunganui on Saturday were tested by hot conditions.Pictures by Sally Cameron

The young Midway lifeguards involved in the tough Mount Monster endurance surf lifesaving event at Mt Maunganui on Saturday scored podium finishes, and their coach was rapt with their performance.

It involved a 12-kilometre ski leg, 5km run, 1.5km ocean swim and 6km board paddle, with the athletes racing as individuals and in teams.

Yahni Brown finished runner-up in the under-19 male individual event, and was fifth overall.

Jacqueline Kennedy was third in the u19 female individual race, and Tyron Evans third in the u19 male event.

Ella Sutton and Emily Petro finished second in the u19 female teams race, and Hannah Webb and Alice Sparks were third.

“It was another great day for the squad,” Dawson Building Midway head coach Jack Gavin said.

“There were great performances all round, in some very hot, flat conditions.

“I’m very proud of how everyone worked hard and pushed themselves to the limit.”

The result followed Midway’s strong showing at the Whangamata Classic the previous weekend.

•  Midway’s Cory Taylor and Olivia Corrin made strong starts to the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series at Manly Beach in Sydney on Saturday. They both had fourth-place finishes in the enduro event, Round 1 of the series.

However, they slipped back in the field in Round 2 at Manly on Sunday, with Taylor seventh and Corrin 10th.

In the overall standings, Taylor sits fifth on 35 points, a point behind the third-placed athlete.

Fellow Kiwi Joe Collins is first-equal with Australian “iron” legend Ali Day, on 56 points.

In the women’s series, Corrin sits sixth on 32 points, close behind fourth and fifth places.

Her Northcliffe clubmate Lana Rogers leads on 56 points.

The third and fourth rounds of the series will be held at Maroubra Beach, Sydney, on January 13 and 14.