Pittwater Online News

Action moved from the sand to the surf on a sensational second and final day of the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Masters Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Thursday.

It was tight at the top with three Sydney clubs neck and neck for much of the day. North Bondi just edged out Queenscliff 255 points to 244 with defending champions Bondi Surf Bathers on 241 points.

With the Masters Surf Boats hitting the water tomorrow to round out the competition there is still room for a change in the lead.

Redhead (fourth) was the best of the Hunter clubs with hosts Swansea Belmont also finishing inside the top ten. Toowoon Bay in seventh spot finished top of the Central Coast contingent, while Wanda, Coogee, Manly, and Palm Beach also finishing strongly.

In the 30-34 age group Nadine Canning (Cudgen Headland) continued her successful summer in the winning gold in the Surf, Ironwoman, and Ski races to go with her first place on Day 1 in the Board event.

Cameron Pyett (Wanda) was the winner in the Male 30-34 age group while Queenscliff’s Chris Allum took out a hotly contested Ironman.

The men’s 35-39 Single Ski Race was closely fought and ended in a clean-sweep for Hunter clubs. Jason Upton (Stockton) just edged out Ryan Cook (Swansea Belmont) with another Stockton competitor in Glen Bernard securing bronze.

Lisa Brown (Redhead) took out the Female 40-44 Surf Race while also claiming gold in the Single Ski. Melissa Thurlow (Swansea Belmont) had a successful day taking silver in the 40-44 Ironwoman, gold in the Board Race, and finishing just outside the medals in the Surf.

In the Male 45-49 category Terrigal’s Paul Lemmon finished second behind Glenn Slater (North Curl Curl) in the Board Race before claiming gold in the Ironman – he also joined his teammates for success in the relay events.

In the 55-59 group there were multiple winners in the water disciplines. Lisa Critoph (Mona Vale) won the Surf Race, Joanne Helson (Shellharbour) was too strong in the Ironwoman race, and Annabelle Chapman (Palm Beach) took out the Board Race.

Newport’s Stuart Meares took out the 55-59 Surf Race, Nick Carroll (Newport) won the Ironman, while Alan Boyce (Redhead) and Rod Landy (Thirroul) took out the Ski and Board Race respectively.

In a throwback to the classroom maths was certainly a requirement of the day as the veterans counted up their ages to ensure that they were able to enter the team events. The basic maths secured, great fun was had by all competitors as they negotiated the sometimes tricky conditions to snare points for their clubs and were raucously cheered on by their teammates.

Hosts Swansea enjoyed a memorable win in the Men’s 130 Years Taplin with the team of Mark Masia, Martin Rees, and Joshua Blair using their knowledge of the conditions to lead from start to finish.

“It certainly wasn’t an easy swim – there was a lot of sets coming through,” said Joshua Blair who swum the last leg of the event.

“I actually went further to the south than the others to get to the cans first and it paid off. The swell was the biggest I’ve seen this summer but the other guys did a great job to set me up for the finish,” he said.

NSW Surf Sports Coordinator Luke Stigter said it was an enjoyable competition conducted in the right spirits.

“The Masters competitors certainly relished the chance to showcase their skills and while the conditions weren’t in their favour it was great to see them all rise to the challenge,” he said.

The 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships proudly supported by Your local club continues tomorrow Friday 10 March at Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea with the first day of Open Competition

1 North Bondi SLSC 255

2 Queenscliff SLSC 244

3 Bondi Surf Bathers LSC 241

4 Redhead SLSC 161

5 Wanda SLSC 129

6 Coogee SLSC 106

7 Toowoon Bay SLSC 102

8 Manly LSC 97

9 Swansea Belmont SLSC 95

10 Palm Beach SLSC 87

All winning points for their clubs and lots of gold, silver and bronze medals coming home too. 

Grand Final 1 Mona Vale SLSC Team A: Lise Layard, Kristyn Monnock, Paula Tocquer

Grand Final 3 North Curl Curl SLSC Team A Glenn Coltman, Glenn Slater, Andrew Stuart

Grand Final 4 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Christopher Allum, Ian Poole, David Slennett

Grand Final 2 Freshwater SLSC 

FRESHWATER MAROON Kurt Hanson, Michael Kirkby, Simon Phin

Grand Final 3 North Curl Curl SLSC Team A Glenn Coltman, Glenn Slater, Andrew Stuart

Grand Final 1 Queenscliff SLSC Team A  David Callan, James Castle, Gregory Gardner

Grand Final 2 Manly LSC Team A  Stephen Coulter, Mark Houston, Peter Ingle

Grand Final 3 Newport SLSC Team A Mark Ansiewicz, Nick Carroll, Stuart Meares

Grand Final 3 Newport SLSC Team B Nick Carroll, Laurence McCoy, Stuart Meares

Grand Final 1 Queenscliff SLSC Team A  Mark Clare-Nazer, Grant Henderson, David Slennett

Grand Final 6 Freshwater SLSC FRESHWATER MAROON Michael Kirkby, Timothy Munro, Paul Stormon, William (Bill) Wilson

Grand Final 3 Manly LSC Team A  Stepehen Coulter, Peter Ingle, Anthony Vieceli

Grand Final 2 Mona Vale SLSC Team A  Lisa Critoph, Lise Layard, Kristyn Monnock

Grand Final 3 Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) Team A Annabelle Chapman, Fiona Rae, DianeVan Ooi

Grand Final 1 Mona Vale SLSC Team A Lisa Critoph, Lise Layard, Kristyn Monnock

Grand Final 2 Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) Team A Palm Karen Begg, Fiona Rae, Diane Van Ooi

Grand Final 2 Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) Team A Karen Begg, Annabelle Chapman, Fiona Rae

Grand Final 2 Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) Team A Karen Begg, Annabelle Chapman, Fiona Rae

Grand Final 1 Warriewood SLSC Team A Glen Bauder, Adam Gee, Ben Hargy, Christopher MacDonald

Grand Final 2 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Helena Grono, Kelly McFadden, Annabel Nelson, Kylie Stewart

Grand Final 5 Mona Vale SLSC Team A Lisa Critoph, Lise Layard, Kristyn Monnock, Paula Tocquer

Grand Final 6 Queenscliff SLSC Team B Jennie Callan, Gabrielle Davis, Jay Harwood, Tina Martin, Selam Stensland, Melissa Way

Grand Final 1 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Michael Gedz, Stephen Hoy, Stephen Nelson, David Shearsby

Grand Final 1 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Suzanne Brown, Robyn Henderson, Michelle Hoy, Merrilee Linegar

Grand Final 1 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Linda Burrell, Susan McGinley, Helen Porter, Sukie Southern

Grand Final 2 Queenscliff SLSC Team A  Eric Dole, Simon Dorahy, Ian Johnston, Robert Wilson

Grand Final 2 Camille de Carmejane-Vesc, Manly LSC

Grand Final 3 Camille de Carmejane-Vesc, Manly LSC 

Grand Final 5 Jennie Callan, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 2 Jennie Callan, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 3 Jay Harwood, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 4 Glenn Coltman, North Curl Curl SLSC

Grand Final 1 Christopher Allum, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 4 Glenn Coltman, North Curl Curl SLSC

Grand Final 3 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Christopher Allum, Adrian Halliday

Grand Final 1 Christopher Allum, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 4 Glenn Coltman, North Curl Curl SLSC

Grand Final 1 Ross Langbein, Collaroy SLSC

Grand Final 3 Jon Harwood, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Ross Langbein, Collaroy SLSC

Grand Final 3 Jon Harwood, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Quentin Reeve, Palm Beach SLSC (NSW)                                                                                

Grand Final 1 Melinda Pelly, Manly LSC

Grand Final 3 Belinda Picard, Long Reef SLSC Inc                                                                                     Quentin Reeve, Palm Beach SLSC

Grand Final 2 Stephen Hatch, Newport SLSC 

Grand Final 2 David Callan, Queenscliff SLSC

Equal 2nd.

Grand Final 5 David Callan, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 4 Steve Richards, Dee Why SLSC

Grand Final 6 Georgina Pelly, Manly LSC

Grand Final 4 Bec Crawford, Manly LSC

Grand Final 2 Melanie-Jane Brock, Manly LSC

Grand Final 5 Melanie-Jane Brock, Manly LSC

Grand Final 1 Kristyn Monnock, Mona Vale SLSC

Grand Final 3 Helena Grono, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Kristyn Monnock, Mona Vale SLSC

Grand Final 2 Helena Grono, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Mona Vale SLSC Team A Kristyn Monnock, Paula Tocquer

Grand Final 4 Bryce Munro, Mona Vale SLSC

Grand Final 4 Ben Hargy, Warriewood SLSC

Grand Final 4 Linda Moon, Manly LSC                                                            

Grand Final 2 Kirsten McFadden, Queenscliff                                                                                Ross Langbein, Collaroy SLSC                                               

Grand Final 2 Lise Layard, Lise (F) Mona Vale SLSC 

Grand Final 4 Janet Proudfoot, Newport SLSC

Grand Final 2 Kelly McFadden, Queenscliff SLSC 

Grand Final 3 Kylie Stewart, Queenscliff SLSC 

Grand Final 5 Annabel Nelson, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Kylie Stewart, Queenscliff SLSC 

Grand Final 2 Kelly McFadden, Queenscliff SLSC 

Grand Final 5 Annabel Nelson, Queenscliff SLSC

Grand Final 1 Hilary Ingle, Manly LSC

Grand Final 2 Queenscliff SLSC Team A Kirsten McFadden, Maree White

Grand Final 2 William (Bill) Wilson, Freshwater SLSC

Grand Final 1 Freshwater SLSC Team A Timothy Munro, William (Bill) Wilson

Grand Final 1 Glenn Slater, North Curl Curl SLSC

Grand Final 5 Peter Ingle, Manly LSC

Grand Final 1 Adam Gee, Warriewood SLSC 

Grand Final 5 Glen Bauder, Warriewood SLSC

Grand Final 6 Glen Bauder, Warriewood SLSC

Grand Final 6 Dianne Van Ooi, Palm Beach SLSC (NSW)

Grand Final 3 Diane Van Ooi, Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) 

Grand Final 5 Fiona Rae, Palm Beach SLSC (NSW)                                                                                Martin Lynch - Newport SLSC

Grand Final 2 Fiona Rae, Palm Beach SLSC (NSW) 

Grand Final 4 Maree White, Queenscliff SLSC

After losing their title to Bondi Surf Bathers last year the veterans of Queenscliff responded in the best possible fashion by surging to an overall lead on the first day of competition at the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Masters Championships.

On International Women’s Day it was fitting that the women took centre stage at Blacksmiths Beach with the performance of a group of women from the small club of Toowoon Bay playing a significant role in propelling the Central Coast club into second position on the overall point score.

Rosalind Chugg claimed 4 medals (including 2 gold) for Toowoon on opening day while Mei-Ling Venning secured herself 3 gold medals in the 70 and Over Age Group after recording victory in the 1KM Beach Run, Beach Sprint and Beach Flag events.

Nadine Cadding continued on her run of success at Masters taking out gold in the Women’s 30-34 Surf Race although there weren’t many races conducted in the water today after the decision was made to suspend competition due to the conditions.

While the wind made conditions made it challenging for the athletes the lack of water events meant that the entire beach program was able to be completed.

Lisa Wright (Dixon Park) took out a highly competitive 30-34 sprint, Davina Strauss (Coledale) was crowned 35-39 year champion and Kristyn Monnock (Mona Vale) the 40-44 race.

In the Flags Kylie Stewart (Queenscliff) won the 45-49 event, Windang’s Kaye Norris was the victor in the 50-54 competition while Valoria Crick (Bellambi) took gold in the 60-64 event.

There were a number of strong performances in the men’s events with the appropriately named Keiran Speed (Bondi) scorching the sand as he ran his way to gold in the 70+ 1KM Beach Run, Hunter competitors had reason to cheer when Tea Gardens – Hawks Nest Anthony Logue claimed gold in 65-69 Beach Run, while Redhead’s Adam Rowe (30-34) beat Greg Tobin in the one of the only Ski Races to start.

After watching her son win gold for Swansea in the U11s 1KM Beach Run last week, Angela Leadbeatter blitzed the field to win the gold medal in the Female 40-44 2KM Run. The hosts also earned a bronze medal in the 35-39 Male Surf Race through Ryan Cook.

Former Sports Minister, Senator and current President of Athletics Australia Mark Arbib demonstrated his talent on the sand when he took home gold in the 45-49 2KM Beach Run for his club Bronte.

Queenscliff SLSC 189

Toowoon Bay SLSC 102

North Bondi SLSC 89

Coogee SLSC 68

Wanda SLSC 59

The 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Masters Championships proudly supported by Your local club continues tomorrow Thursday 9 March at Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea

Past friendships will be renewed and that competitive rivalry which has never quite faded is sure to be on display when the Masters Athletes take Blacksmiths Beach for the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships on Wednesday morning.

Over 1000 athletes from 83 clubs aged between 30 to over 70 will be action across the two days of competition. Many of the competitors have been involved at the recently concluded Age Championships as parents, coaches, or officials, and will be undoubtedly be keen to test their skills in what has been challenging conditions at one of Lake Macquarie’s premier beaches.

Some of those who will take to the water or beach track have international experience at World Masters games, been an Australian medallist in the past, or even represented their country on tour.

One of Surf Life Saving’s greatest strengths is its inclusivity – and because it promotes not only fitness but a healthy lifestyle competitors are able to do it long after the final whistle has sounded on the footy field or other sporting endevour. It’s not unusual for multi-generations to train alongside one another and it’s this that has played a key role in the development of the Surf Life Saving culture.

In 2017 all 11 branches will be represented at The Masters Championships as the athletes look to end their season on a high or tune up for a tilt at next month’s Australian Titles.

Sydney and Sydney Northern Beaches will field the largest team sending over 200 athletes each with Central Coast not far behind.

Hunter will field a strong team of 139 competitors including the Chair of the Organising Committee for the State Championships Graham Burge who won an Australian Title on the Board in the 1990s.

The Lower North Coast will field a team of 20 athletes while Mid North Coast, North Coast and Far North Coast will also be competing.

Pleasingly a small contingent of 11 athletes from the state’s Far South have also entered along with competitors from the South Coast and Illawarra.

There will be a number of intriguing subplots in this year’s event. Can Dori Miller continue on her winning ways? Will Paul Lemmon’s dominance in the water continue?

The 30-35 age group promises again to be highly competitive with many of the athletes using the opportunity to warm-up before taking on the young guns in the Open Championships later this weekend.

If past results are anything to go by and especially if the conditions are challenging the nous and experience of these competitors could very easily come to the fore.

Cudgen Headland’s Nadi Canning has been in exceptional form over the last 18 months and will be hoping to bring her Country form to the big stage.

Bondi Surf Bathers are in the unknown position of defending champions for the first time – it remains to be seen how they handle being the hunted. Beach rivals North Bondi and former winners Queenscliff will certainly be more than competitive.

As always the team events will be a popular edition on the program with the athlete revelling in the chance to compete with their friends in some highly entertaining races.

The 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Masters Championships proudly supported by Your local club takes place on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 March at Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea

Adam Gee , Warriewood SLSC 

Mona Vale SLSC