Surf lifesaving: Top team chase perfect way to farewell sport

Jaron Mumby (left) and Chris Scott have picked this week's championships at Waipu Cove to sign off. Photo / Supplied

One of surf lifesaving's most enduring partnerships will come to an end this weekend, although star Taranaki inflatable rescue boat drivers Chris Scott and Jaron Mumby hope to exit how they started.

It's been 14 seasons since the Fitzroy pair first teamed up to race the inflatable rescue craft and their success since then has been unprecedented.

They've captured nearly 30 national titles, won the Tri-Nations title for New Zealand in 2003 and have proved near-unbeatable at the national surf league event in the past few seasons.

But all good things must come to an end - and the pair have picked this weekend's New Zealand IRB championships in Waipu Cove, Northland, as the perfect place to sign off.

"We've had a good knock - we've been racing together for 14 years and it's a long time," 32-year-old Mumby said. "We kind of retired in 2004 when the international scene fell over but we got back into it a year later because we just loved the sport so much."

Scott and Mumby were originally both drivers, until they first paired up at the national championships in 1996 and Mumby was pitched into the front of the boat to do the pick-ups.

"We won three golds and two silvers in the senior division that year so it was a pretty good indication it was going to be a good move for the future."

This year's national championships has attracted almost 110 crews, from a record 32 clubs around the country. IRB competition first started in New Zealand in 1978, with the watercraft now a key tool in conducting rescues on beaches and coastlines.

Although Mumby and Scott were pipped by East End rivals Andrew Cronin and James Morwood for the overall national title at Oakura Beach last year, they still picked up golds in the mass rescue and assembly rescue events. They also dominated the surf league event in Mt Maunganui last month as Taranaki won a second consecutive provincial title.

"Taranaki has been such a special team for us and we've been in there for the last 10 years but it's only in the last two that we've tasted success and turned all those bronze and silver medals into gold," Mumby said.

"What we're looking for at each carnival is consistency across all events and we pride ourselves in constantly being able to finish in the top-two."

A building 1m swell is predicted for the championships, which start at midday today and go through until Sunday afternoon.

- NZPA