SURFING - Mangawhai cleans up longboard champs

SURF lifeguards from Mangawhai Heads took out first place in every division at the 16th Annual New Zealand Lifeguard Longboard Nationals held on Sunday.
The competition, held at Mangawhai Heads surf beach, drew 38 competitors representing eight surf lifesaving clubs.
The competing clubs were Ruakaka, Mangawhai Heads, Red Beach, Muriwai, Bethells Beach, United North Piha, Piha and Karekare.
Event organiser Dave McNeish says postponing the contest from Saturday was a good call.
"The weather went from gale force onshore winds on Saturday, to offshore winds with clean two-foot waves on Sunday. The conditions were perfect for the longboard competition," he said.
Karekare Surf Life Saving Club won the team award trophy for sportsmanship.
Men's Open Division:
1 Tai Flavell, Mangawhai Heads; 2 Zane Baker, Mangawhai Heads; 3 Joe Moohan, Karekare.
Classic Division (pre-1970 longboards):
1 Dean Storey, Mangawhai Heads; 2 Oscar Parks, Karekare; 3 Lloyd Herbert, Muriwai.
Masters Division:
1 Murray Dix, Mangawhai Heads; 2 Ian Parker, Mairangi Bay; 3 Mike Scott, Mangawhai Heads.
Women's Open Division:
1 Jess Costello, Mangawhai Heads; 2 Lauren Johnson, Red Beach; 3 Amanda Currie, Mangawhai Heads.
Junior Division:
1 Tim Gibb, Mangawhai Heads; 2 Toby Gibb, Mangawhai Heads; 3 Kyle Taylor, Ruakaka.
Caption: STANDING TALL: Longboard finalists, from left, Tai Flavell, Zane Baker and Dean Storey, of Mangawhai Heads; Clint Booth, Oscar Parks and Joe Moohan, of Karekare.