Black Fins get hat-trick

By Otago Daily Times | Posted: Sunday August 28, 2016

Black Fins captain Andrew McMillan helps create history in the Netherlands.

The New Zealand Black Fins have completed a hat-trick of world lifesaving titles.

The Kiwis collected their third consecutive title in the Netherlands.

Another eight medals on the final day of Rescue 2016 contributed to an already successful campaign that has seen the New Zealand Black Fins crowned lifesaving world champions in The Netherlands.

The team of 12, led by St Clair's Andrew McMillan, won eight medals on the final day of Rescue 2016 to head off Australia and clinch the title.

The pool events were held in Eindhoven and the beach events at Noordwijk aan Zee.

Traditionally stronger in the beach events, it's the first time the Kiwis, or any team, have won the title of top team in the pool and beach events as well as the overall world title.

New Zealand finished with 881 points ahead of Australia on 792 points with France in third on 599 points.

The team started the final day with Mount Maunganui's Olivia Eaton taking silver in the women's beach flags to add to her gold in the women's beach sprints.

Mairangi Bay's Danielle McKenzie added another silver in the women's ski race. Omanu's Max Beattie then took his first of three golds for the day in the men's board race. The other individual gold came in the men's ironman and then with team mates Paul Cracroft-Wilson, Cory Taylor and Chris Dawson in the oceanman relay.

"We've been dreaming of this day and we've taken it one step at a time," McMillen said.

"We thought about taking over back in 2012 and we've had this core belief that we've got the ability to do it. We've never stopped believing and the last three world championships have shown it.

"We're stoked that we've been able to come up with the victory in the last three."

The New Zealand youth team finished with a successful day in the pool to claim second overall on 735 points behind Australia (926) with Italy in third (546).