Strong line-up for North Island IRB champs
Friday 5 December 2008, 9:46AM
By Surf Life Saving New Zealand
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Fitzroy's much-vaunted IRB depth will be tested at the North Island BP Surf Rescue Championships in Waipu Cove this weekend.
The Taranaki club is sending a reduced team up to the event, with current open women's national champions Katie Watts and Emma Crofsky among several club members unavailable.
However, they're still able to call on the slick combination of Jaron Mumby and Chris Scott in the premier men's ranks, with the pair capturing three titles at the North Island championships and going on to claim another two at the nationals in Dunedin in March.
Their main rivals this weekend will be Muriwai pair Andrew Lancaster and Ashley Matuschka, along with another Taranaki crew, East End's Brady Cameron and Andrew Cronin.
Current world champion Danny Morrison will represent Mairangi Bay, although Cameron Allison, his partner in their emphatic victory in Warnemuende, Germany, in July, is currently in Australia.
Instead Morrison has linked again with his Auckland surf league teammate Jason Pocock, reviving a partnership last seen in the 2005/06 season.
A total of 58 crews will race in the four divisions - premier, senior, under-21 and women's - with the premier and women's divisions both increasing from last year.
Muriwai and East End have strong representation through all divisions, with East End defending the overall points trophy from the North Island event last year.
North Island BP IRB Championships:
(Waipu Cove, Saturday 6 December, 9.00am start)
Categories: Premier. senior, under 21, women, team rescue race.
Events: Tube Rescue, mass rescue, assembly rescue, single rescue, team rescue race.