Lifesavers lose element of surprise

Taranaki will be looking for back-to-back wins in the national Surf League competition at Mt Maunganui this weekend.

Taranaki claimed its first title since 1997 at last year's interprovincial surf lifesaving contest by a massive 31.5 point margin over Canterbury.

But it's not going to be easy to repeat last year's heroics.

"Last year, we took everyone by surprise," said team captain and coach Glenn Anderson. "There hasn't been a team in recent times that's won two years running."

That's not to say Taranaki is not heading away with thoughts of victory in the gruelling two-day event.

"We've got a strong team from one to 13. Other teams have individual stars, but we have strength throughout," he said.

"We just have to come up with a new formula and be better at what we do."

The Taranaki team includes sprint star Paul Cracroft-Wilson, the gun IRB crew of Jaron Mumby and Chris Scott, and leading women Ayla Dunlop-Barrett and Jamie-Lee Reynolds.

Cracroft-Wilson and ironman Daniel Nelson have returned from Australia for the event and are leading chances in their events.

While Taranaki will be looking for its second title, Gisborne is chasing its fourth title and Auckland its fifth.

Wellington has also been given a boost by the presence of Olympic swimmer Dean Kent, who returns from a year out of all sport, having joined the Titahi Bay club.

Four-time champion Canterbury will be looking to veteran sprinter Morgan Foster, while Bay of Plenty will be looking to improve on last year's fifth.

New Zealand coach Scott Bartlett and his fellow selectors are using the surf league to narrow down the search for a 12-strong squad to take to Egypt for the world championships in October. The six men and six women will be named in April.

Gisborne has named 19-year-old Australian-based star Maddie Boon as one of its ironwoman contenders, where she will go up against the likes of national champion Rachael Clarke, of Auckland, and Hawke's Bay champion Nikki Cox.

Auckland is the defending under-19 champion, having beaten Bay of Plenty last year, with Wellington third.

Taranaki, after a disappointing effort last year in the age-group competition, has boosted its ranks drafting in three athletes – Thomas McCarthy, Cara Ryan and Siobahn Wright.

The Surf League features 17 events a day, with under-19 athletes competing on Mt Maunganui's Main Beach in the morning and senior athletes doing battle in the afternoon.

TARANAKI: Open: Glenn Anderson (captain), Kent Fraser, Mark Woodward, Steve Harris, Chris Scott, Jaron Mumby, Paul Cracroft-Wilson, Katie Watts, Jamie-Lee Reynolds, Ayla Dunlop-Barrett, Danni Melody, Dylan Dunlop-Barrett, Daniel Nelson.

Under-19: Casey Stevens, Nikaela Gilmer, Isaac Owen, Joel Meuli, Mitchell Greg, Scott Busing, Isaac Robinson, Thomas McCarthy, Cara Ryan, Siobahn Wright.

- © Fairfax NZ News