CURRUMBIN VIKINGS SLAY THEIR BOAT RIVALS

March 18, 2012: The Viking horde from Currumbin Beach conquered the boats arena at the Crazy John's Queensland Surf Lifesaving Championships today, winning four gold medals from the six finals.

Super sweep Lyle Clark was the king of the Vikings, guiding three of the boats to victory, including the open men in the blue riband race.

In really testing conditions, the Currumbin Barbarians crew of Clark and rowers Glen Williams, Mac Hamilton, Nick Parr and Randall Martin were able to get cleanly through the break then show the speed that has made
them one of Australia's best crews.

In the end, they were able to clearly win the final from Marty Fletcher's Rainbow  Bay crew and Mooloolaba.

"You've got to be in the first couple to get out the back to have a crack at a race like this," Clark said.

"If you get held up in the break it's pretty much over.

"Once we're out we're pretty hard to catch."

The big challenge for the Barbarians crew now is the Australian Championships starting on March 26. They have gone close to winning the gold medal at the Aussies four times in recent years only to narrowly miss out.

"The Aussies is like a hoodoo for us, something seems to happen every time but this crew is committed to go all the way," Clark said.

Clark also swept the under-19 men and reserve men to victories today, adding to the boat relay gold
he won yesterday.

Matt Wildman swept the under-23 women's crew to victory.

Clark paid tribute to Pat McGuire who has led the under-19 men and under-23 women crews this season but
who handed the sweep oar to Clark and Wildman today because of the difficult surf conditions.

Currumbin's under-23 women beat Southport and Tannum Sands, the reserve crew finished ahead of Met Caloundra and Northcliffe, and the under-19s beat out Northcliffe and Alexandra Headland.

Kurrawa crews finished first and second in the open women's boat race with Tugun placing third, while Coolum Beach won the under-23 men's race from Tannum Sands and Noosa Heads.