Successful weekend for Kiwi surf athletes

New Zealand surf lifesavers capped a dream weekend in the fourth round of the lucrative Ocean Assault series on Queensland's Tugun Beach today.
Mount Maunganui teenager Chelsea Maples made it back-to-back beach sprint victories, after winning the event in round three yesterday. She also finished third in the women's board race yesterday, behind Australian stars Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) and Alyce Bennett (Burleigh Heads).
Outstanding Orewa paddler Teneale Hatton matched Maples' deeds and continued an excellent run of form, taking out the women's ski final, consigning Bateup and Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) to the minor placings, although Smith later took out the ironwoman title for the second day running.
The Kiwi men also got in on the action, with nine-time New Zealand beach flags champion Morgan Foster (South Brighton) pipping Paul Cracroft-Wilson (Fitzroy) in the men's final, with Australian Andrew Bolt third. Wellington's Ben Willis was third in the same event yesterday.
Former New Zealand 400m champion Callum Taylor, meanwhile, finished second in the beach sprint on both days, behind Kurrawa's Aaron Stubbs.
New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie then scored his best result on Australian sand, snatching second in today's surf race, behind world champion ironman Shannon Eckstein.
Northcliffe's Eckstein proved his superstar billing by winning the feature men's ironman both days.
The successful New Zealand athletes have now qualified for the series finals, which take place at Southport on December 20 and 21.
More than 900 surf athletes have competed throughout the series, with more than A$200,000 ($242,000) in cash and prizes on offer.