Athletes Master Aussies
Friday 31 Mar 2017 – by Surf Life Saving NSW
The state’s best Masters competitors showed they’ve lost none of their class with an outstanding medal return at the recently completed Australian Surf Life Saving Championships held on the Gold Coast writes Kirstie Holway.
The Australian Masters Championships popularly known as “The Aussies” is the premiere surf sport event of its type on a national scale and is open to 10 age groups ranging from those who have just turned 30 through to Over 70.
NSW athletes underscored their dominance with a grand total of 318 made up of 110 gold medals, 104 silver and a 104 bronze throughout the two-day competition.
There was a number of sensational results both in the sand and on the surf.
NSW dominated the 45-49 years men’s sprint with Adam Gee (Warriewood), John-Paul Smith (Salt) and Simon Preston (Coogee) taking out all three medals in this hotly contested race.
Queenscliff’s Stephen Nelson was in scintillating form on the beach claiming gold in both the 55-59 years sprint and flags. Mr Nelson competed in his first Australia Championships in 2007, since then he and his wife Annabel have enjoyed competing each year.
“I love the competition and meeting knew people, I have made many new friends through the Aussie Championships,” he said.
The couple are very keen excited for next year’s Aussie and have already looked into booking accommodation for the event.
The Men’s 70+ years were extremely successful as an age group taking out gold and silver in the sprint, all three medals in the double ski as well as all three medals in the flags event.
In the 45-49 years male events Terrigal’s Paul Lemmon dominated the surf, Ironman and rescue tube events, taking away gold medals in each.
In the 45-49 year female sprint Coogee had plenty of success with Sharon Deans taking out first place, followed by her club mate Linda Walsh earning silver.
Mona Vale's Kris Monnock won gold in her sprint. Queenscliff had a successful turn out in the 55-59 years Female Events, taking out all three medals in the sprint and silver and bronze in the flags event.
Merrilee Linegar took out first in sprint and second in flags. Merrilee does three beach training sessions a week as well as yoga and regular ocean swims.
The camaraderie of her Queenscliff team mates continues to motivate and inspire her. Mrs Linegar states with confidence “Yes, I will definitely be returning next year”.
NSW claimed the victory of all three places in the 65-59 year’s female sprint; their success did not finish there as they walked away with all three medals from the flags event as well.
Queenscliff and Toowoon bay declared triumph in both the 200 and 230 years female beach relay placing first and second respectively.
The surf boat event was another great success for NSW clubs with North Cronulla, Avalon Beach and Bilgola bringing home a clean sweep in the 180 Years Female Surf Boat Race.
NSW athletes claimed all three medals for the 65-69 years female board, ski and iron women events.
Surf Life Saving NSW Sports Officer James Trickey described the Aussie Masters Championships as a “Great way for competitors to face off against the best of the best in the country”.
“Having such a strong Masters contingent is ideal for surf lifesaving in NSW. Having such wise heads involved, whether it be competing, officiating or coaching can only mean the grassroots levels will continue to improve,” Mr Trickey said.
For full results from the 2017 Australian Surf Life Saving Masters Championships Please Click Here
NSW Youth Fire Up At Aussies
Monday 27 March 2017 by Surf Life Saving NSW
It was a stunning start to the 2017 Australian Championships for the NSW based competitors with the youth athletes returning from Queensland with plenty of medals in their possession.
The Youth Championships open to U14 and U15 age groups is for many the first opportunity they have had to test themselves against the best surf sport talent from around the country.
It is safe to say that the NSW lifesavers passed this toughest of tests with flying colours.
In the U14s, NSW clubs picked up 19 medals made up of seven gold, seven silver and five bronze.
In the male races Nicholas Stoddart (Swansea Belmont) and Riley Dixon (Wanda) claimed the Australian Title in the Board and Surf Race respectively, while on the beach Brandon Morkos (Bellambi) took out the Beach Sprint and Kai Hammond (Wanda) was first-over-the-line in the 2km Beach Run.
Bella Williams (Cooks Hill) continued her scintillating summer campaign taking gold in the U14 Ironwoman and Board Race and earning silver in the swim. Jacinta Davidson-Bunch (Cronulla) lasted the distance to take out the U14 Female Flags, while Holly Abbey (Nowra-Culburra) also picked up two silvers on the beach.
Umina’s Lachlan Braddish won three gold medals in the U15s after taking out the Ironman, Surf Race, and being a member of the successful Surf Teams event.
Kye Taylor (Cooks Hills) won the Board Race but there was more joy for the Hunter club in that event as club mate York Dalton joined him on the podium with a bronze medal.
The speedsters from Mollymook continued their run of form on the sand as Keeghan Norwood (U15 Beach Sprint), Sam Zusotovich (Beach Flags) and the U15 Beach Relay Team all finished with gold medals.
Manly and Swansea Belmont also enjoyed success in the team events with the Sydney Northern Beach powerhouses taking out the U15 Male Board and Cameron Relay while Swansea Belmont won gold in Board Rescue.
Coogee enhanced their reputation as one of the best exponents of R & R in the country claiming gold in the U15 Mixed event with Collaroy taking the bronze.
In the U15 Female Events Hayley Smith (Cudgen Headland) won the Board Race, Isabellah Walker took out the Beach Sprint, while Newport’s Macy Carrothers is now the best Flagger of her age in Australia.
Elouera’s U15 Female Beach Relay Team consisting of Brigitte Salib, April Druery, Rachel Tougher and Ella Randazzo continued their winning streak to be crowned Australian Champions.
The best friends were the ones to watch heading into the weekend after blitzing the field at the NSW Championships in U15 relay only a couple of weeks ago.
The amazing feat of the victory was Brigitte, April and Rachel were all competing up an age group as they did at Blacksmiths but that didn’t intimidate them one bit.
Success is second nature to the girls with Brigitte, April and Rachel winning gold at the last six NSW Championships along with U14s teammate Holly Porter.
Individually, Ella placed second in the U15 sprint while in the U14s, Rachel claimed bronze and April and Brigitte just missed out on the medals finishing fourth and fifth in the final respectively.
There was more joy for NSW based athletes in the 2KM Ocean Swim that was also held during the opening weekend of competition as they added 4 medals to their tally. James de Vrites (Shelly Beach) was the lone gold medallist as he claimed gold in the U19 event.
Under 15: Male
Iron - 1st Lachlan Braddish (Umina), 3rd Zach Morris (Manly)
Board - 1st Kye Taylor (Cooks Hill), 3rd York Dalton (Cooks Hill)
Surf - 1st Lachlan Braddish (Umina), 2nd Zachary Roja (North Cronulla)
Beach Sprint - 1st Keeghan Norwood (Mollymook)
Beach Relay - 1st Mollymook
Beach Flags - 1st Sam Zustovich (Mollymook)
Surf Teams - 1st Umina, 3rd Manly
Board Relay - 1st Manly, 2nd Cooks Hill
Board Rescue - 1st Swansea Belmont
Cameron Relay - 1st Manly
Under 15: Female
Iron - 3rd Kaimana Fittock (Bulli)
Board - 1st Hayley Smith (Cudgen Headland), 2nd Madison Ward (Manly)
Surf - 3rd Madison Ward (Manly)
Beach Sprint - 1st Isabellah Walker (Cronulla), 2nd Ella Randazzo (Elouera)
Beach Relay - 1st Elouera, 3rd Cronulla
Beach Flags - 1st Macy Carrothers (Newport)
2km Beach Run - 3rd S Taurins (Newport)
Surf Teams - 2nd Wanda
Board Relay - 3rd Manly
Board rescue - 2nd Manly, 3rd Wanda
Under 15: Mixed
5 Person R&R - 1st Coogee, 3rd Collaroy
Under 14: Male
Board - 1st Nick Stoddart (Swansea Belmont), 2nd Nathan Mackenzie (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
Surf - 1st Riley Dixon (Wanda), 3rd Nick Middleton (Wanda)
Beach Sprint - 2nd Aiden Helu (Manly), 3rd Fletcher Myers (Cooks Hill)
Beach Flags - 1st Brandon Morkos (Bellambi), 2nd Bryan Rudenas (North Cronulla)
2km Beach Run - 1st Kai Hammond (Wanda)
Under 14: Female
Iron - 1st Bella Williams (Cooks Hill), 3rd Piper-Lily Walker (Avoca Beach)
Board - 1st Bella Williams (Cooks Hill), 2nd Xanthe Christopher (North Bondi)
Surf - 2nd Bella Williams (Cooks Hill)
Beach Sprint - 2nd Holly Abbey (Nowra-Culburra), 3rd Rachel Tougher (Elouera)
Beach Flags - 1st Jacinta Davidson-Bunch (Cronulla), 2nd Holly Abbey (Nowra-Culburra)
2km Beach Run - 3rd Piper Harrison (Manly)
2km Ocean Swim
Open Female - 3rd Madison Spencer (Newport)
Under 19 Male - 1st James De Vries (Shelly Beach)
Under 17 Male - 3rd Harry Came (Cronulla)
Under 17 Female - 3rd Emily Doyle (Manly)
Mona Vale SLSC
Congrats to Mona Vale SLSC ladies at Aussies 2017 - Day 2!
Medals as follows:
Kris Monnock - Gold Medal in Beach Sprint
Sophie Stokes & Kris Monnock - Silver Medal board rescue
Paula Tocquer, Lise Barry and Lisa Critoph - Silver Medal in Taplin relay
Lise Barry, Sophie Stokes and Kris Monnock - Bronze Medal in Board relay
Newport SLSC
Bronze to Stuart Meares, NickNick and Kevin Flood in the 170+ Taplin.
Our President Rob Emerson with Glen Borg, Ted Smithies & Marty Lynch. Silver medal in the 230+ beach sprint relay. Ted also won his 65-69 individual sprint. Steve Hatch picked up a Bronze in the 35-39 Beach Sprint.
Jackson Borg: Bronze u18 Male, Maddie Spencer: Bronze open female, Phoebe Savage: 5th open female, Geordie Smith: 4th u15 female, Guyren Smith: 9th 40+ Male, Jan Proudfoot 4th 40+ Female.
Nick Carroll 2nd in 55-59 Board, Kevin Flood 3rd in 60-64 Board, Stuart Meares 2nd in 55-59 swim.
Congratulations to Macy Carrothers for winning GOLD in the under 15 Australian titles in the beach flags. Branch, State and and now Australian champion and undefeated this season.
Ollie Signorini - GOLD in the Open Men's Surf Swim!
Olivia Heaton, Caitlin Wilcox and Amber Moran - Silver in the under 17 female ski relay
Gold, gold to Lily Tancred and Linda Leck, U17 Mixed First Aid!
Avalon Beach SLSC
March 28,2017
Here is an update from the Aussies Surf Boat competition in Queensland with some outstanding results for Avalon Beach SLSC. Congratulations to all our teams competing:
The Avalon Red (Rockstars) (Pete Carter, Adam Schofield, Shaun Wolthers, Daryl Johnson, swept by Nathan Wellings) won Silver
The Antiques (Beverly Tilbury, Amelia Butler, Kate Munro, Donna Wishart, swept by Nathan Wellings) won Bronze.
The Alans (Alan Mahn, Alan Moran, Jeff Nesbitt and Jason Dale, swept by Rick Millar) got a 3rd, DSQ and 4th in the heats, missed the cut for the final but got the best rollover of the day.
The DBs (Mel Akehurst, Amanda Dale, Stephanie Stoddard and Shannon Fletcher) got through to the semis in their 160yr division - top eight in Australia!
The Clowns came in 3rd in the point score with heats that went 1st, 2nd, 1st The Clowns were pretty confident going into the Semi-Final before being taken out by a huge wave. The announcer summed it up best..."You've gotta feel for the Clowns they've been winning all day, they took off like a scared cat straight into that monster while everybody else stayed dry, that's Surf Boat racing". They'll be back...
Only a small Masters paddling team from Avalon Beach SLSC - Bob Richardson, Darren Warrener, Grant Salmon, Chris McGuckin and Alan Channels competed at the Australian Championships at Kirra this year. No bling this year but some great results: a 4th to Chris in the 60 - 64 years Ironman, 5th to Bob in the 65-69yrs Ironman and his Board race and 4th to Chris, Darren and Bobby in the 170 years Board race.
Unfortunately the conditions played havoc with Chris’s board race as he was leading out of the last can but a wave picked up 11 paddlers behind him to come over the top of him.
Palm Beach SLSC
While some sleep in, they are already putting the gear on the roof racks.
While others press snooze, they are already in the water.
While the everyday person puts milk in their cereal, they've already swum, paddled and run twice over.
The Palmy Masters take their deserved place atop the Aussies 2017 podium.
Palmy Army & the Pebble - courtesy Alex Tyrell