Kiwis collect cash in Queensland surf finale

New Zealand surf lifesavers saved their best until last at the grand final of the lucrative Ocean Assault series in Queensland today.
The Kiwi contingent was led once again by their sprinters, with Taranaki's Paul Cracroft-Wilson taking out the glamour men's flags event, while compatriot Ben Willis finished third.
Cracroft-Wilson collected A$2500 ($3200) for his efforts, adding to the world interclub beach sprint title he won in Germany last year, and going one better than his finish in the Ocean Assault final 12 months ago.
"I'm really rapt with the way I ran today and I got the job done," Cracroft-Wilson said. "My turns were great and now I just need to get a bit of speed going to compete in the sprint."
Willis (New Plymouth Old Boys) continued his great rivalry with Cracroft-Wilson, collecting just over $1000 for his third placing, with only Australian Aaron Stubbs splitting the Kiwi pair.
Stubbs backed up by winning the beach sprint, while veteran Gold Coast-based New Zealander Callum Taylor propelled his seemingly ageless 36-year-old legs into second. Gisborne's Daniel Harris was sixth in the sprint final.
Another New Zealand expat, Nathan Henderson, finished just out of the money in fourth in the board race, behind talented Australian representatives Jacob Lollback and world champion Shannon Eckstein.
Another sprinter, Mount Maunganui 18-year-old Chelsea Maples, also finished fourth in her favoured beach sprint event but picked up a brilliant third in the women's board race.
Northcliffe ironwoman Kristyl Smith won, while Maples headed home acclaimed Australian representatives Elizabeth Pluimers and Alyce Bennett in a sprint up the beach.
"It was my last race of the day, so I was really pleased, because I didn't have a great beach sprint," Maples said. "But my sprinting really helped me because I knew that if I came in on a wave with the other girls that I'd have the stronger finish."
Orewa ski paddler Tenealle Hatton continued her strong season, finishing fifth in her final.
The men's ironman was won by Australian legend Zane Holmes, with Nathan Smith second and Eckstein third, while another athlete from the strong Northcliffe club, Courtney Hancock, headed Kristyl Smith home in the ironwoman.
Most of the New Zealand contingent will now compete in next month's national surf league competition in Mount Maunganui, while Cracroft-Wilson is eyeing a repeat of his brilliant 2007 season.
"All my training now will focus on the New Zealand championships in March and the Australian championships a week later. It's a tough run of events, but in 2007 when I won the Aussie titles, it was the same set-up."