We won GOLD at the Junior State Surf Life Saving Championships at Swansea Belmont over the weekend of 28 February to 2 March. Our All Age Relay team was the fastest on the beach and after many years of being in the final at State, we beat everyone by a mile and came in first place. This champion team include Shane Murray, Lauren Cook, Ryan Coleman, Adam Thompson, Damien Cook, Christopher Astill and Ben Dowling.
Forty-two children competed from the Club, with 18 medals coming home.
It wasn’t just the All Age Relay team which brought home medals. Bronze medals were won by our U8 Girls Relay team of Alana Humphries, Elizabeth Hill, Erin Blackwell and Hayley Coleman. The U12 Girls Relay team of Chenay Mercer, Laura Mercer, Tiarne Blackwell and Brooke Dent also won bronze. Christopher Astill won bronze in the U13 Sprint (his second medal for the day), Tiarne Blackwell won silver in the U12 Beach Flags and Amanda Mercer took home a bronze in the U14 Beach Flags. Congratulations everyone.
All Age Relay Team: (Back L to R) Ben Dowling, Chris Astill
(Front) Ryan Coleman, Damien Cook, Lauren Cook, Shane Murray, Adam Thompson.
Board Training (Back L to R) Brian Morton, Darryl Taylor, Dave O’Grady (Middle) Carly Perrin, Ryan O’Grady, Josh Dent, Luke Taylor, Stacey Hillier, Brooke Dent, Delwyn Buchan (Front) Lachlan O’Grady, Hayley Johnston, Amy-Leigh Perrin, Cameron Baillie, Mikayla Morris, Toby Dent.
Other finalists include Luke Van Zyl U8 Beach Flags, Shane Murray U8 Beach Sprint, Ryan O’Grady U10 Swim, Adam Thompson U11 Beach Flags, Luke Taylor U11 Swim, Damien Cook U12 Beach Sprint and Ben Dowling U14 Beach Flags. We had a much bigger team in the water this year which was great to see. (continued page 18)
For all of us, finals day was very emotional. Tears flowed, voices were lost as we were cheering so hard and even some of the officials had tears in their eyes. There seemed to be a sea of our club colours of red, white and blue everywhere.
Evan Griffiths was awarded Life Membership for Surf Life Saving NSW and Ben Dowling represented the Club as the Illawarra Junior Lifesaver of the Year.
The following weekend of 6-9 March was just as exciting when the Senior State Surf Life Saving Championships were held at the same beach. Seventeen competitors headed up to Swansea, including two U19 boat crews. Don Burke’s crew of Ben Wood, Luke McCarthy, Michael Fairbairn and Max Nicholls rowed particularly well and only just missed the quarter finals through sheer misfortune.
Laura Humphries made the finals of both the U19 and Open Women’s Beach Flags coming in 7th place. Allira Mercer made the semis of both U16 Beach Sprint and Beach Flags and Anthony Astill made the semis of the U16 Beach Flags.
Our Helensburgh Stanwell Park state uniforms were worn with pride during both weekends. The support shown by everyone, even people from other clubs, was second to none.
The Seniors now have their sights set on the Australian Surf Titles in Kurrawa, Queensland later this month. We wish them all well.
We would like to thank our coaches who have been there every week training our nippers. Brian Morton, thank you for your time, effort and patience in the board training you gave every week. Thank you so very much to our other coaches who include: Graham Cook - All Age Relay, Graham Mercer - Beach, David Astill - March Past, Darryl Taylor and Dave O’Grady - Water.
The Boaties Branch Championships were held on Saturday 15 March and also won a medal. Our U19 boat crews did extremely well with Mark (Gator) Wallace’s crew of Eddie White, Chris Ryder, Michael Breeze and Nathan Thompson picking up a silver medal. Don Burke’s crew of Luke McCarthy, Michael Fairbairn, Ben Wood and Max Nicholls just missed out on a medal coming home in 4th place. What great results guys. Both these crews should perform well in Kurrawa.
A reminder about the Ocean Challenge which will take place on Sunday 6 April. The swim starts at Coalcliff beach, goes around the headland to finish at Stanwell Park, an approximate distance of 2.4km. Entry fee is $20 or entry on the day is $30. Information and entry forms are available by writing to Helensburgh Stanwell Park Surf Life Saving Club Inc, PO Box 111, Helensburgh or logon to www.stanwellparksurfclub.com or www.oceanswims.com
Entrants must be over 14 years of age.
Don’t forget the Surf Club Reunion on Sunday 4 May. It will be held at the Workmen’s Club and commences at 11am. Formal business will be kept to a minimum and the reunion will be catered by Leo’s from the Club at $15 per head if required (roasts, salads and dessert). For catering purposes please RSVP by 26 April to Peter McDonald on 42941247. All members new and old along with friends who have been in any way associated with our Club over the past 95 years are most welcome to attend. For any further details please contact Peter McDonald.
Sea Eels Winter Swimmers will conduct time trials at Coalcliff pool at 9am on Sunday 27 April. This will be followed by the AGM at 11am at the Surf Club. Everyone, whether you are young, old, male or female are welcome to join in the opening of our 15th season at the oceanside pool in Coalcliff. You don’t have to be a great swimmer, you just have to be able to swim 50 metres. Besides swimming and socialising, the club raises money for charities. This season the WSAA Champion-ships will be held at Banora, hosted by the Tweed Heads Aquaducks on Sunday 14 September.
One more reminder that the Club now has a website up and running. Simply log onto “www.stanwellparksurfclub.com” for all the news. What’s on, club program and general administra-tion forms are available.
Julie Humphries, Publicity Officer