Cronulla Ironman John Holt among five awarded an OAM for surf lifesaving in Australia Day Honours

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Australia Day Award, January 24, 2014: Cronulla’s legendary Australian surf lifesaver John Holt, disqualified after winning his first ever surf race, is among a celebrated list of Australian sporting stars including five surf lifesavers named in the 2014 Australia Day Honours list.

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Holt, who started his career as a 16-year-old swimmer and went on to be regarded as one of Australia’s greatest ironmen, has been awarded an OAM for his services to Surf Life Saving and Triathlon and was named alongside fellow OAM recipients for Surf Life Saving, the late Joe Seddon (Coogee), Dr Graham Cato, Jim Dougherty (Yamba) and Noel Kelk (Alexandra Headland) and also with his long-standing Cronulla water polo legend and friend– four-time Olympian Andrew Kerr.

The determined Holt and his blue, black and white Cronulla cap became synonymous with National and International surf lifesaving success in a dominant decade between 1967 and 1979 which saw him contest 123 ironman races for a remarkable 95 wins, 11 second places and eight thirds.

Included among those successes was the elusive Australian open ironman title he finally won in the freezing waters of Victoria’s Bancoora Beach in 1977; the first Australian Junior Ironman championship in 1969 and two World crowns, including Australia’s first World championship in 1972 and a second in 1974.

He was also a member of four Australian Surf Life Saving Teams between 1971 and 1975 and the NSW teams between 1970 and 1978 when he was named captain of the team.

Holt was one of five Australian ironmen, joining Grant Kenny, Trevor Hendy, Ken Vidler and Barry Rodgers named among 23 athletes in the inaugural induction in the SLSA Hall of Fame.

John joined Cronulla SLSC in October 1967, as a 16-year-old and was the first the first of many swimmers who emerged from the Ken Wiles “Surf-Swim Squad” based at the Sans Souci Olympic Pool.

He had already established himself as a pool swimmer. As a fourteen year old he was Australia’s number one ranked 800 metre freestyle swimmer.

Wiles had been an Australian Belt Champion and a Queensland and Australian Surf Representative, so it was his influence along with John’s friendship with Kevin Neilson, that convinced John to join Cronulla Surf Club.

John made an immediate impact in Surf Lifesaving. A bronze squad had been quickly formed. It contained, John and his mate Kevin and two other Sans Souci Squad members, Warwick Syphers and Peter Stone.

The bronze squad was rushed through and completed their bronze medallion on the Saturday of the Wanda Surf Carnival in January 1968.

That afternoon John won the Junior Surf Race, but was controversially disqualified by officials because he was not entered in the individual surf race but the Cronulla boys won the Junior Surf Teams – the first of many NSW and Australian titles to the Cronulla crew.

Holt said he can’t begin to explain just how excited he is about receiving the OAM.

“Like so many young lifesavers, I joined Cronulla club with no idea where the sport would take me but it was the best thing that ever happened in my life.

“I have met so many great people and had the honour of representing my State and Country and being inducted Into the SLSA Hall Of Fame in 2004 along side Grant Kenny, Trevor Hendy, Barry Rodgers and Ken Vidler as one of the best Ironmen of all time was special to me.”

Holt was also the foundation President Of Cronulla Triathlon Club, a club that has produced world Champions like Greg Welch, Michellie Jones, Chris McCormack, Craig Alexander, Peter Robinson and Michael Maroney plus many age group world champions like Bob Telfer, Belinda Zoszyn and Michael Prince.

“I am very proud of my input to the safe conducting of triathlon events,” said Holt.

“Likewise I am very proud of the legacy of my vision in developing and conducting for many years the Kurnell Triathlon Series, still TriNSW’s major events.”

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JOHN HOLT RECORD

Surf Lifesaving

Member, Board of Surf Sports, Surf Life Saving Australia 2005 -2011
Advisor, NSW Premiership Series, Surf Life Saving New South Wales 2000
Member Advisory Panel, NSW Board of Surf Sports 2000-2001
Member Surf Life Saving NSW Coaching Panel, 1993-1994
Member Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club since 1967
Coach and mentor to many young lifesavers.
Life Member Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club.
Member Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club management Committee, 14 years, holding roles including, Senior Vice President, Junior Captain, Assistant Secretary Treasurer, Publicity Officer from 1967 to now.

Surf Life Saving Competition
Competitor, in Surf Life Saving and Ironman Championships from 1967 – 1979 (retired)
Competed in 116 iron man events for 97 wins.
Won two World Ironman Championships, an Australian Open and Junior Ironman Championship, Five NSW Ironman Championship Titles.
Australia’s first World Ironman Champion, 1972 and 1974
Australia’s first Junior Ironman Champion 1969
Member of four Australian Surf Life Saving Teams 1970 – 1975
Runner –up, in the Australian Superstars of Sport Competition 1977
Inaugural Inductee in to the Australian Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame 2004

SLS Representative Teams
Selected in every NSW team that contained and Iron man from (1972,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978 ( Captain)
Australian Teams: 1971 Test Series Verses South Africa; 1973 Test Series Tour Verses New Zealand; 1974 World Life Saving Championships South Africa; 1975 Tour of Europe and Great Britain

SLS Championship Medal Summary

Sydney Branch/ Sydney Metropolitan Championships: 23 Gold; 19 Silver; 15 Bronze.

New South Wales Championships: 10 Gold; 5 Silver; 15 Bronze

Australian Championship Medals: 8 Gold; 5 Silver; 7 Bronze

World Championship Medals: 3 Gold; 1 Bronze

Triathlon
Established Endurance Sports Promotions in 1991 and was Founder and Race Director of the Kurnell Triathlon Series.
Conducted and managed over 60 Triathlon events
Secretary of Triathlon NSW 1987- 1991
Developed safety procedures and standards for the safe conducting of triathlons.
Negotiated Public Liability Insurance for the sport.
Foundation President of Cronulla Triathlon Club 1985-1987
Triathlon Coach many years
Life Member of Cronulla Triathlon Club 2012
Triathlon competitor 1983- 1987, Australian Age Triathlon and Aquathon Champion.

Media
Involved in the development of the current professional Ironman Series for television, the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwomen Series form 2007 on Channels 7, 10 and now 9
Expert Commentator and advisor for the Uncle Toby’s Ironman Series, Channel 10, 1989-1995.
Expert reporter for Surf Life Saving and Triathlon Events on Radio Stations 2KY and 2GB 1985-199

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia
Ian Hanson
Hanson Media Group

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