STARS CONVERGE ON YAMBA IN PADDLE FOR JACOB

SURF SPORTS, October 7: Australia’s finest board paddlers will converge on the NSW North Coast resort town of Yamba tomorrow to paddle their hearts out in memory of Jacob Lollback, one of Australia’s finest young lifesavers.
 
Lollback died in September 2009 in a tragic diving accident off Gladstone, doing something he loved and he will be remembered at the second Annual Jacob Lollback Memorial Board Race Day from 11am tomorrow.

Events will include the open men’s and women’s four-kilometre event; the under 15, under 17, under 19 and Masters two kilometre races and the popular Dash For Cash in all divisions – with over $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs.

Sponsors Dolphin, Kracka and Xcel have all donated boards to be won in random draw prizes.
 
Stars who will line up in the Open Men’s four-kilometre race will include defending champion Wes Berg, who will be joined by fellow 2010 podium finishers Mitch Miller and Lollback’s former training partner and good mate, celebrated Ironman Hugh Dougherty.
 
“We’re looking forward to a great day and we’ve got entries from all of the major clubs who will again come to Yamba to paddle in memory of Jacob,” said Dougherty, like Lollback a Yamba product, now coaching Australia’s next generation of ironmen, ski paddlers and board paddlers at Tugun.
 
“I guess it’s the least we can do to honour Jacob’s life and I know everyone who comes to Yamba tomorrow will all have their own memories and their own stories to tell of Jacob, a great young guy, who left us too early.
 
“Most of the paddlers coming down have either raced in the Kellogg’s Trial or the Coolangatta Gold so there will certainly be some red hot competition.”
 
Other contenders for the $1,000 first prize include:
 
• 2000 World Ironman champion Phil Clayton & New Zealand Ironman champion Chris Moors (Kurrawa)
• Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman James Stewart & Cameron Ward from Nth Burleigh
• Kellogg’s Trial runner-up Cory Hill, Australian under 19 Ironman champion Tanyn Lyndon and established board paddler Mark Bint from Northcliffe
• Cudgen Headland’s Scott McCartney
• Currumbin’s Australian Under 19 Ironman silver medallist Jackson Maynard, 2009 Australian open board race bronze medallist Michael Saal and former Australian under 15 silver medallist Mark O’Brien and;
• Mooloolaba’s 2011 Australian open board race silver medallist Dane Windshuttle.

The Open Women’s 4km the main contenders will see:
 
• Last year’s winner and Molokai World Paddleboard Champion Jordan Mercer (Noosa)
• Triple Crown winner Courtney Hancock & former Australian Ironwoman Champion Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe)
• Kellogg’s Series Ironwoman Alyce Bennett (Nth Burleigh) and
• Emerging stars Miranda Davies & Kayla Russell from Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park.
 
Hancock raced into the Surf Life Saving history books last week when she added the Coolangatta Gold to her previous victories in the Ironwoman Series and the Australian Championship – all won in the same year.
 
REGISTRATION
All competitors need to register on the morning of the event between 9am and
10.30am. Competitors will be numbered and this number will be used for BOTH
races as well as for the random draws at the presentation following the event.
 
COURSES
A 2km rectangular course will be set off Yamba Main Beach. Open competitors
will paddle 2 laps of the course. All other age groups will paddle 1 lap of the
course.
 
DASH FOR CASH
For the ‘Dash for Cash’ races, competitors will start between two buoys 200
metres out to sea and race to the beach and run to the finish line.
 
START TIMES
* PLEASE NOTE – These are NSW DAYLIGHT SAVING times
11.00am - U/15 males 2km
11.02am – U/15 females 2km
11.10am – U/17 males 2km
11.12am – U/17 females 2km
11.20am – U/19 males 2km
11.22am – U/19 females 2km
11.30am – 30/39 males 2km
11.32am – 30/39 females 2km
11.40am – O/40 males 2km
11.42am – O/40 females 2km
12 noon – Open male 4km
12.05pm – Open female 4km
‘Dash For Cash’
1pm start – Under 15 males, then at 5 minute intervals in same order as
previous events.

PRESENTATIONS
Presentation of all prizes will take place in the clubhouse at 2pm.
There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placegetters in all long distance events.
In the Dash for Cash races there will be a cash prize for 1st place in each age
group (subject to numbers of entrants).
 
RANDOM DRAW
All competitors will be eligible for the random draws for the three new racing
boards courtesy of major sponsors - KRACKA, DOLPHIN and XCEL.
Competitors MUST be present to collect their prize if their name is drawn. If
not, there will be a re-draw.
 
APPROVED CRAFT
Only SLSA approved Malibu boards are permitted – maximum length of 3.2m.
 
COMPETITION CAPS
Club competition caps must be worn for identification and safety purposes.
 
AGE GROUPS
Age groups will be as per the SLSA competition manual using September 30th as
the cut-off date.
 
ADVERSE SURF CONDITIONS
If surf conditions on the day are deemed to be too rough and dangerous the
races will be re-located to Whiting Beach inside the river mouth or another
suitable location nearby.
 
BBQ
A BBQ will operate throughout the day and following the presentations upstairs
in the clubhouse. Stubby holders available for purchase on the day