Kiwis collect medals in Queensland surf

A trio of New Zealand athletes grabbed gold medals at the Queensland State surf lifesaving championships yesterday.

National ironman champion Daniel Moodie warmed up for the defence of his New Zealand crown next week in Gisborne by helping his Northcliffe `B' side to an upset win in the surf race teams event, heading home their club's gun side which included ironman stars Nathan Smith, Pierce Leonard, Shannon Eckstein and Zane Holmes.

Mount Maunganui teenager Chelsea Maples picked up titles in the under-19 beach sprint, under-19 board rescue and open beach relay for her Kurrawa club. She also collected silver in the under-19 beach flags, open beach sprint and finished fourth in the open flags and under-19 board race.

Maples and Gisborne's Madison Boon helped the Kurrawa under-19 board relay team to bronze, while Boon collected the under-19 ironwoman title and the under-19 double ski with Auckland paddler Michael Lee.
Boon also finished third in the under-19 surf race, while Lee was second in the under-19 ski race, ahead of Mairangi Bay's Bjorn Battaerd in fourth.

Champion Taranaki sprinter Paul Cracroft-Wilson could only manage fourth in his specialist open flags event, and was edged off the podium in the sprint by Wellington's Ben Willis (third) and ex-pat Kiwi Callum Taylor (second).

Lee, Battaerd and AJ Maney were second in the under-19 ski relay, while Red Beach's Maney also made the final of the under-19 ironman.