Participants from local clubs showed their strength on the sand and in and on the sea again this year with Mona Vale SLSC's Kristyn Monnock again bringing home a swag of Gold - 2 in the Ironwoman and Single ski, Silver- 5 one on the sand in the Sprint and in the Board Race and 3 in the Team events with club members Lise Layard and Sophie Stokes in the Board Relay, with Andrea Smith and Janet Proudfoot in the Surf Team, with Paula Tocquer in the Double Ski event and a Bronze with Janet Proudfoot and Lisa Critoph.
Fellow team members also picked up a number of medals - there was Aussie Gold in the Board Rescue for Chrisitine Hopton OAM and Lisa Critoph, Gold for Andrea Smith in the Single Ski and a Silver with Sophie Stokes in the Double ski, while Lisa Critoph secured Bronze in the 1 k Beach run and the Board race.
The MVSLSC Surf Boat crews brought home some great results too with Silver for the 'Masters of the Universe'; Sean Needs, Matthew Collins, Kai Cooper, Ryan Halangahu, Nathan Wilson in the 160 years Division. Their Open Surf Boat Crews have brought home some Bronze as well - Mona Vale SLSC's 'Sludge'; Christopher Bridge, Fraser Campbell, Luke Chivers, Matthew Collins, Ethan Farmer in the Open Male Surf Boat Short Course Race and Bronze for Mona Vale SLSC's 'Snow Whites'; Matthew Collins, Yvette Giblin, Taylor Richards, Kristina Larsen, Ash Watson in the Open Female Surf Boat Short Course Race.
Mona Vale SLSC Double Ski Medallists: Paula Tocquer, Kristyn Monnock, Andrea Smith, Sophie Stokes, Lise Barry and Jan Proudfoot - photo by Christine Hopton OAM
MVSLSC Surf Boaties - pretty happy about that!
Mona Vale SLSC's Masters Team accrued the most points of all clubs in the SLS SNB with 105 in total while that other very strong Masters Team Queenscliff notched up with 99 points and Manly LSC continue to fly their club's colours across Youth, Masters and Opens - in fact Anthony Vieceli won Bronze behind legend Grant Kenny in the Single Ski as some gauge as to how good the level of athleticism is on our beaches and some indication as to why these people continue to save lives. Manly Masters had 92 points by the time their 2019 Aussies
Golds, Silvers and Bronze have been secured in all clubs that participated from Palm Beach SLSC to Manly LSC with many backing up their efforts from last year in.
Warriewood SLSC's 'Rusty's' have successfully defended their Masters 200 years Female Surf Boat bout with Alex Coates, Tanya Deer, Louise Kemp, Russell Lamb and Kathryn Maguire bringing back their second successive Australian Championship while fellow Masters Surf Boat Team - 220 years, the 'Crustys'; David Peaston, Stuart Torrington, Mark Hodgson, Carl Quitzau and Russell Lamb, secured Bronze.
Australian Champions - Warriewood SLSC's 'Rusty's
Warriewood's sand dancers continued their medal run at the 2019 Aussies with a Silver in the relay for Glen Bauder, Adam Gee, Ben Hargy, Justin McDonald and a silver and an individual Silver in the men’s 45-49 for Adam Gee.
Queenscliff's 200 yrs min Male Beach Relay Team of Brian Dolly, Michael Gedz, Stephen Hoy and Stephen Nelson secured Gold for their club in the Masters relay events.
The Surf Boat races remain one area where the SLS SNB are strongly represented at this year's Aussies with all clubs having crews among the Semi-Finals and medallists after the Grand Finals in both the Masters and Opens. For example, in the aforementioned Open Male Surf Boat Short Course Race the results were:
South Curl Curl SLSC; Rob Lowery, Christopher Hughes, Trent Rogers, Michael Egan, Jordan Thurlow, Death Riders, Grand Final - 1st
Mona Vale SLSC; Christopher Bridge, Fraser Campbell, Luke Chivers, Matthew Collins, Ethan Farmer, Sludge, Grand Final 3rd
And for the Open Female Surf Boat Short Course Race:
South Curl Curl SLSC; Charlotte Walters, Sophie Coolican, Mark Spiteri, Ellie Winstanley, Lara Campbell, Straw Hats, Grand Final - 1st
Mona Vale SLSC; Taylor Richards, Matthew Collins, Ash Watson, Kristina Larsen, Yvette Giblin, Snow Whites, Grand Final - 3rd
Avalon Beach SLSC; Peter Carter, Rachel Strong, Rebecca Elliott, Ashleigh Norman, Ellie Mackay, Avalon Beach Bandits, Grand Final - 5 th.
The spirit of Rick Millar and a determination to honour him has seen some great results for the Avalon Beach SLSC boaties: Gold in the 180 yrs min Female Surf Boat, Avalon Beach SLSC; Melinda Akehurst, Amanda Dale, Shannon Fletcher, Matthew Mayall, Stephanie Stoddard, the 'DBs' , and Bronze in the same division for Avalon Beach SLSC's Sally Macintosh, Kate Munro, Beverley Tilbury, Nathan Wellings, Donna Wishart, the ' Antiques' while the men in the 180 yrs min Male Surf Boat Avalon Beach SLSC's President Ashley Cardiff along with Peter Carter, Daryl Johnson, Adam Schofield, and Nathan Wellings, the 'Avalon Beach Rockstars' have also won Bronze.
Bilgola SLSC romped home too, Gold for their 140 yrs min Male Surf Boat crew of Jason Crump, Ben Gill, Mark Hooley, Matthew Nugent and Luke Perrin, the ' Bilgola Bends', and Gold again for 200 yrs min Male Surf Boat crew of Ben Gill, Grant Jacobs, Mark Parsons, Norman Pounder and Garett Smith.
Avalon's Chris McGuckin and Robert Richardson boosted their club's Masters point score this year - Gold in Board Rescue and Chris went on to notch up another Gold for himself in the Board Race. Avalon's Jean Harper won Bronze in the 50-54 Male Beach Flags and points in the Grand Final for the Beach Sprint. All up Avalon Beach SLSC's Masters Team secured a very respectable 45 points.
Australian Champions - Chris McGuckin and Robert Richardson
The Palm Beach SLSC's Masters Team of Annabelle Chapman, Karen Begg and Fi Rae won Gold in the Board Relay and Silver for their Female Taplin Relay Team of Annabelle Chapman, Fi Rae and Di Van Ooi. Fi Rae won an individual Bronze in the Ironwoman, and Silver for Di Van Ooi in the Surf Swim, while this same team of girls appeared among the finalists in other Masters events too and had a total of 43 points overall for their Masters participants - outstanding considering they weren't the largest team there.
Palm Beach SLSC's Fiona Rae, Karen Begg and Annabelle Chapman, with Mona Vale SLSC's Jan Proudfoot, Christine Hopton OAM and Lisa Critoph - Australian Champions! - photo by Joanne Nelson.
Newport SLSC continued with their strong representation in both the sand and sea events, Ted Smithies securing another Australian Championship Gold medal in the 65-69 Beach Sprint while their 200 yrs min Male Beach Relay Team of Tristan Conn, Stephen Hatch, Martin Lynch and Ted Smithies were Grand Final material and just missed out on the medals but still added points.
While on these sprinters on Tuesday, April 2nd, SLSA President Graham Ford AM was delighted to induct 10 new members to the SLSA Masters Hall of Fame - Martin Lynch, Georgina Lynch, Don Marsh, Prof. Neville de Mestre, Paul Lemon, Alison Pegg, Stephen Fry, Mark Bennetts, Michael Cook, and Gavin Hill were all recognised for their sporting achievements and contributions to the Surf Life Saving community.
SLSA President Graham Ford AM with Martin Lynch
Congratulations Mr. Lynch, well deserved considering how much and for how long you have worked with the Australian Youth and Open Teams for World Championships, among other dedicated feats of this runner's icon.
Newport's Open Team members have secured Gold in the U19 Girls Surf Team of Emily Doyle, Jami Prowse, Lexi Harrison and Madison Louw while Manly LSC's U19 girls took the silver - Piper Harrison, Naomi Scott, Georgia Singleton and Madison Ward. Emily Doyle also won Bronze in the U19's Ocean swim.
Gold again for Newport in the U17 Australian Ski Relay of Zach Morris, Braden Newling and Finn Askew, and Goldvcfor their U19s Rescue Tube Rescue squad of Emily Doyle, Jami Prowse, Madison Louw and Analiese Melbourn. In the Open Male Single Ski Relay Team, Mitchell Trim, Jackson Borg and Jayke Rees, have secured Silver and Silver again in the U19 Mixed First Aid for Linda Leck and Lily Tancred while a 6th for Lucinda Bentley and James Simmonds is more points and also underlines every aspect of what a surf club membership is trained for and dedicated to.
Australian Champions in Newport's U17 Ski Relay Team of Zach Morris, Braden Newling, Finn Askew
Australian Champions - Newport's U19 girls Surf Team win Aussie Gold!
Newport's Ski Relay Team winners in Mitchell Trim, Jackson Borg and Jayke Rees
Newport's dedication in the Surf Boat arena has been rewarded at this year's Aussies too with their Under 23, 'Thunder' crew of Abby Ballesty, Meagan Barr, Tara Doyle, Claudia Harris, Michael King and daughter Zoe King securing Gold. This is Newport's First female Australian Boat Gold in Newport Club HISTORY! and means there will be a bit of dancing going on at the clubhouse over the next few weeks - long trained for and hard earned. Congratulations girls and Mr. King - your dad and granddad Bert King will be dancing with glee too!
While on the U23 Female Surf Boat results, SLS SNB crews dominated the finals places with the sole team from south of here often seen in local carnivals:
1st: Newport SLSC's 'Thunder' ; Abby Ballesty, Meagan Barr, Tara Doyle, Claudia Harris, Michael King, Zoe King
2nd: North Cronulla SLSC's 'Funkys 23 Women'; Nicole Glasson, Alysha Lerond, Maggie Mahoney, Madeline McDonald, Mark Mcdonald, Hayley Urquhart
3rd: Palm Beach SLSC (NSW)'s 'Peaches'; Gabriela Chubb, Lucy Courtenay, Stephen Cox, Grace Shipway, Nicola Thomas
4th: North Narrabeen SLSC Inc.'s 'Chickpeas' ; Letitia Alford, Tamara Alford, Claire Farkas, Aleesha Gibby, Donald McManus
5th: Mona Vale SLSC's 'La La Ladies'; Kai Cooper, Grace Seaglove, Antea-Allegra Crvelin, Jaimee Henery, Natasha Cowper
Newport's Open Team have 92 points as we go to press, Saturday April 6th. Their Masters Team have 51 points for their 2019 Aussies efforts.
Sth. Curl Curl's U19s Girls Surf Boat Crew the 'BumpsNHumps' crew of Malawi Warneford, Nicola Berry, Laura Oliver, Vivienne Saunders and Mark Spiteri - Australian Champions!
On the last day of competition Max Brooks (Newport SLSC) won the Australian Ironman Championships at Broadbeach holding off eight-time champion Shannon Eckstein who finished second in what was his final Ironman race.
Max was speechless following the win.
“It’s been a really tough season for me, I haven’t got one result yet this season, that’s as good as it gets there, it feels like a bit of dream really,” Brooks said.
“I’ve loved the sport since I was 10 years old and he (Shannon) was always the one at the top of his game and to be able to race with him for the last four years and then to be in his last ever two races it means a lot, I’m really happy.”
Eckstein’s smart racing challenged the field through the three stages and he was looking good for the win after the board stage.
But the race opened up during the ski when Eckstein came up against a ‘wrong wave at the wrong time.’
“I couldn’t go down I had to pull off and 360 around,” Eckstein explained. “I gave away 100 metres and I had to try make that up…and nearly got there.”
James Brooks, Newport coach and dad of Max was on the sand and stoked!
Newport SLSC's Madison Louw won Silver in the U17 Female Ironwoman on Sunday, while Alex Lefevre took the Bronze in the U17 Female Board Race. All up their Open Team secured 128 points.
This is only a taste of what's been happening. Some more SLSA 2019 Aussies news such as the article just below this section on Dee Why SLSC's latest boatie Masters Womens' Double Bleck' Australian Champions for example, although this report was run prior to Dee Why's results from Sunday when their 'Gorgonites' Surf Boat crew took out 1st in the Open Male Division and the girls made the Finals too, adding more points to their club's total. Congratulations Dee Why SLSC's Christopher Mackinnon, Jason Rowe, Harrison Selby, Shaun Stacey and Jay Yeomans - GOLD! Congratulations Dee Why SLSC's Nicki Daley, Lyndsay Dowsett, Robyn Moore, Alexandra Salier and Shaun Stacey - GOLD!
Dee Why's 'Gorgonites' - Australian Champions!
Masters events results run below. All results are available at: results.sls.com.au
Dee Why Finish Equal With Lorne World Champions At Aussie Masters: Surf Boats
BY SLSA
In their first season together the crew from Dee Why have finished equal first with Lorne, who are the reigning world and Australian champions, at the Australian Masters Championships at Broadbeach.
The seven crews completed three round-robin races, in testing conditions on Tuesday, and the top two female 160 year crews could not be separated.
“It was an amazing day, pretty testing conditions with a few thrills and spills but generally a lot of fun” 49-year-old Lorne captain Paula Matthews said.
“After the three races we were on equal points with Dee Why, which is fabulous.”
The sweep of the boat is Paula’s husband Geoff. And the crew is Shea Grant, Tamara-Leigh Brawn, and Jo Siebenga.
“Jo is the new member of our crew this year from the one that won the Aussies last year in Scarborough and the world title in Adelaide,” Paula explained.
The Lorne crew were equally as happy with performance against the experienced champions.
“They are a really, really good crew so to come away as equal gold medallists is great,” 33-year-old Lyndsay Dowsett said.
“This is our first season together as a crew, so we are really happy to be on the podium with them and both be successful.”
‘Families and different priorities’ meant a crew from Dee Why and Warriewood disbanded, forming this Dee Why crew of two women from each club.
“The conditions were good for us, we like a bit of chop,” Dowsett, who has raced for 15 years, said.
“We’ve got a great sweep in Shaun Stacey who can definitely hold a wave and has been sweeping for several years.
“It was really enjoyable being back here with surf, as surf boat racing should be.”
Robyn Moore, Alexandra Salier and Nicki Daley with the other members of the champion Dee Why crew who have been training everyday of the week for the Championships.
“In the boat we train three days a week. We do ergs about twice a week and then weights and fitness by ourselves. So we train every day or twice a day.”
Dee Why's 'Double Bleck': Nicki Daley, Lyndsay Dowsett, Robyn Moore, Alexandra Salier, Shaun Stacey - Australian Champions!
The Lorne crew trains together in relatively flat conditions on Port Phillip Bay once a week and try to get down to the coast on weekends when they can to train in the surf. Three of the four women train together more regularly in their reserve crew.
‘We have loved the challenging conditions here and are looking forward to the (open) reserve races on Thursday,” 49-year-old Matthews, who has been rowing for 20 years, said.
Yamba took bronze and the other Surf Boat winners on Tuesday were Caloundra SLSC in the female 120 years and Torquay in the 140 years.
In the men’s events, Bilgola won the 140 year event, Stockton won the 160 year title, the Mairangi Bay crew from New Zealand led from start to finish to take the 180 years gold medal. Bilgolga SLSC won again in the 200 years event, St Kilda won the 220 years and Burnie SLSC the 240 years Australian title.
You can find full results here.