Girls lucky that our hero Isaac was at the beach

From the Hip

Taranaki folk know their beaches during the summer months are patrolled by the best life guards in the country.

Thankfully, some of those dedicated life guards are around during the winter months - even on the bleakest of days when no-one should be going near the water, let alone in it or on it.

Hero is not a word to be bandied around lightly, but Isaac Owen is definitely one. His actions on Sunday saved the lives of two teenage girls who had decided to go kayaking despite a strengthening southerly wind.

Luckily for them, Owen had decided to do some off-season training and he had no hesitation in grabbing a paddle board and heading out to help tow the girls back to shore. After pulling one girl to safety, Owen and another club member, Andrew Cronin, headed out for the second girl and towed her back to safety.

Both girls survived their ordeal, but it could easily have been a tragedy had not Owen, and then Cronin, been at the beach. Well done, guys.

And, girls, think next time before you go to the beach.

CYCLISTS are a hardy bunch. They have to be.

Especially those who compete in the annual Tour of Taranaki at Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Invariably the weather plays a major part during the three-day tour.

This year was no exception, with conditions on Saturday and Sunday testing riders both physically and mentally. While skiers up the mountain enjoyed the snow, some of the riders had to cope with the cold, white stuff late on Sunday afternoon as the fourth stage wound its way to the finish line in Stratford. Luckily, Monday's weather was much kinder with warm, sunny conditions.

YOU have to feel for Taranaki and Hurricanes rugby flanker Scott Waldrom.

A back injury has cost him a spot in the All Blacks and given another player a chance at that level. Here's hoping Waldrom recovers and rediscovers his form with Taranaki to force his way back into the All Blacks later in the year.

As for the Super 14 final, great if you were a Bulls' fan.

The Bulls were in a class of their own, with the Chiefs never a winning chance despite scoring first. People forget, there's a fair number of Springboks in the Bulls side and playing in front of 80,000 screaming Bulls fans is about as intimidating as it gets.

SO Rodney So'oialo has a dodgy neck?

Here was me thinking his rugby form had just tailed off and others were playing better. Certainly So'oialo's form for the Hurricanes during the latter stages of the Super 14 dropped off. His defence, which has always been one of his strong points, let him down in the last three or four games.

But we're assured that So'oialo needs a rest after a heavy workload.

I would have thought players like Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett, Liam Messam, Kieran Read and Tanerau Latimer, who were all named among the forwards for the All Blacks, would have had the same sort of workload.

- © Fairfax NZ News