He's spent the last 11 years bleeding black and gold - now
Fitzroy surf lifesaver Jaron Mumby has a whole new challenge in
front of him.
After captaining Taranaki to win the last three Lion Foundation
New Zealand Surf League titles, the champion IRB crewman will cross
coasts to race for Gisborne at the two-day carnival in Mount
Maunganui next month.
It's the biggest talking point around the announcement of eight
provincial teams, with Mumby admitting he would've preferred to
stay with his home province.
"I've been training hard and looking forward to my 12th year
with Taranaki but unfortunately I wasn't wanted, after making
myself available as a canoe specialist," Mumby said. "I was very
disappointed but you have to take these decisions on the chin and
with this disappointment came a great opportunity."
Taranaki selectors went for the world champion East End IRB team
of Andrew Cronin and James Moorwood - ironically Cronin and Mumby
teamed up last year at the Surf League when Moorwood was
unavailable.
Gisborne manager Mark Weatherall convinced the 34-year-old to
join the rebuilt red-capped team but only after Mumby had consulted
some Taranaki faithful, like long-time IRB crewmate Chris
Scott.
"His first words were 'do it!' so the decision was made easy
based on a lot of support. I'll be crewing the IRB with another
Taranaki local, Geoff Cronin, and it will be tough taking on
well-established crews with only three weeks to gel but we are 100
percent committed. There is such a buzz within the Gisborne
team and you can be sure I will bring the same level of passion and
determination to the red cap as I have done in the past with
Taranaki."
Mumby's selection isn't the only masterstroke by the Gisborne
team, which could only finish sixth last year. Australian
team members Devon Halligan - the daughter of Kiwis rugby league
star Daryl - and Laura Shorter will also compete for the province,
with Halligan's stint last year proving pivotal to enticing the
sprinting talents of Shorter.
"I loved racing at the Mount last year during the International
Challenge - it's such a great venue and the atmosphere was
fantastic," Shorter said. "Devon and I are good friends and she
loved racing for Gisborne last year and knew that I had an New
Zealand passport, so she suggested I get in contact. Now I'm
excited to get over there and start racing."
Shorter will resume her duel with top Kiwi sprinters Chanel
Hickman (Auckland) and Arna Wright (Bay of Plenty) after some great
battles at the International Challenge last year. Hickman,
who is based on the Gold Coast, will be a warm favourite in the
flags, while Wright's beach sprinting form has been exceptional
this season.
Shorter's parents were born in Palmerston North but shifted to
Sydney 25 years ago.
"The rest of my extended family live in New Zealand and Mum and
Dad are still very proud Kiwis, so they're really happy that I'm
racing over in New Zealand."
Even without Mumby, Taranaki's talented line-up will be hard to
beat, with New Zealand captain Glenn Anderson looking to continue a
remarkable streak. He's been in teams that have won the last
five Surf League titles - the last three with Taranaki, as well as
2007 with Gisborne and 2008 with Bay of Plenty. Taranaki will
also lean heavily on their prodigious IRB crew, as well as world
champion beach sprinter Paul Cracroft-Wilson, swim star Ayla
Dunlop-Barrett and national ski champion Dan Nelson.
Auckland's title quest has been boosted by the return of
ironwoman Rachel Clarke from Police College, joining Hickman,
Maddie Boon and triathlon star Danielle McKenzie in a formidable
female line-up.
Bay of Plenty have picked teenaged sprint star Kodi Harman, who
recently won the New Zealand Schools 100-200m athletics double,
pitting him in an intriguing clash with 36-year-old Canterbury
stalwart Morgan Foster and rising Otago star Joe Kemp.
Wellington's ranks have been swollen by young stars like Kayla
Imrie and Tyler Maxwell, while former New Zealand ironman champions
Nikki Cox and Daniel Moodie form the backbone of the strong Hawke's
Bay team that finished second last year.
Full teams are available here.
Jaron Mumby racing with Andrew Cronin at last year's Lion
Foundation NZ Surf League and patient Katie Watts
