GOLD MEDALS, NOT GREEN JACKETS, FOR SHORT N SWEEP MASTERS

SURF LIFE SAVING, April, 14, 2013: Terrigal’s Paul Lemmon has again mastered the Masters at the 2013 Aussies – taking his career tally to a remarkable 30 gold medals after securing his sixth consecutive Ironman-Swim double on a spectacular start to this year’s Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at North Kirra.

Lemmon picked his mark perfectly and left his opponents green with envy in the tricky conditions after carnival organisers decided to shorten the courses and reverse the direction of the water events to allow competitors to manage the sweep, driven by the 1.5 metre waves hitting the outer bank.

It left no room for mistakes and it was the swim leg that saw him arrive at the southern buoy ahead of fellow former Ironman star Scott Thompson with Surfers Paradise veteran Craig Chapman taking bronze.

“It was difficult out there – I came a cropper in the board this morning and my race was over so I knew I had to get it right in the Ironman,” said Lemmon, also coach of budding Terrigal Ironman Jack Moyes, who won the recent Queensland State title.

“There is no room for error and as soon as I got around the first swim can I had to make the most of the advantage if I was to keep my record min tact.”

In a day of milestones for Lemmon he added not only his sixth Ironman-Surf Race Masters double but also the Australian championship to his World and NSW titles over the past six months.

“I think I’ve deserved a holiday after what has been a very busy season,”said Lemmon.

Chiming in with an outstanding tally of six gold from six events was Northcliffe’s former Ironwoman star Lee Vrolyks who won the 30-34 years ironwoman, surf race, board, ski, rescue tube and board rescue with Tiarne Smith to steer the defending champions into the overall lead in the club pointscore.

At the end of the opening day’s competition which has attracted 6500 competitors from 200 clubs it is Northcliffe in front of the Masters Pointscore on 135 from Noosa Heads 122, Mooloolaba 100.5, Queenscliff 97.5, Maroochydore 94, Byron Bay 73, Currumbin and Bondi Surf Bathers on 64, Alexandra Headlands 60 with Redhead 54 rounding out the top 10.

Noosa have again been spearheaded by Georgina Lynch in the 50-54 years female, with victories in the Ironwoman, rescue tube and board rescue with Phoebe McCubbery while in the 55-59 years Dale Mowbray won four gold for Swansea Belmont in the Ironwoman, single ski, board and board rescue with Marilyn Clarence.

In the boat area it was Avalon swept by the wiley Rick Millar, who dominating, winning the 140 years male and the 180 years female. Amongst the other gold medallists were Mollymook, steered by veteran sweep Barry Page who took gold in the 240 years male final; Kurrawa, swept by Damien Clayphan in the Robert Gatenby boat in the 120 years male; St Kilda in the 120 years women’s; New Zealand crew Mairangi Bay who won the 180 years male – sharing the gold medal with South Australian crew Brighton while in the 200 years male final, champion sweep Chris Flemming swept his South Curl Curl crew to one of the most convincing wins of the day.

Avoca Beach wrapped up their hat-trick 260 years (the combined age of the crew) Australian surfboat championship, with sweep Jim Mitchell picking up a winning runner just after turning the buoys. It was a sweet win for Avoca, who picked up the world title at Christies Beach, as they were able to relegate Long Reef, who beat them at last month’s NSW titles, into second position.

While many Australian eyes were on the exciting conclusion of the US Masters golf tournament, it was all action for surf sports’ masters athletes, ranging in age from 30 years to some over 70, in testing, choppy conditions.

The veterans, including some of the sport’s big names from days gone by contested surf, board, ski, tube and boat races in the water and sprints and flags on the sand.

While not as fast and strong as in their youth, the competitive fires still burn strongly within the likes of Northcliffe’s Gavin Hill, who continued a long run of board racing success by winning the final in the 50-54 years age group.

Hill was fast off the start line, an imperative with the courses for today’s races shortened because of the swell dumping waves on the sandbank off North Kirra.

From there it was a matter of negotiating the fast-moving northerly sweep around the turning buoys and going flat out to the finish, where he emerged clear of clubmate Noel Kolkka in second place, with Marty Ashfield (Alexandra Headland) third.

“There aren’t many tactics for a short course like today, you have to quick off the beach,” Hill said.

“Then you had to look for the cans and give yourself at least 10 metres’ clearance before trying to turn them because the sweep is so fast.
“No-one really gave themselves enough space and it wasn’t easy to get around.”

Hill is in great shape as he is training for the Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race in Hawaii in July, although a swollen knee may hamper some of his efforts this week.
Another veteran paddler, Currumbin’s Brett Dowker, fought off a hamstring strain to win the 40-44 years board final.

Dowker, one of surf sports’ leading coaches, re-injured his left leg while racing into the water in the final but battled through the pain to score a decisive win.

“I hurt the hamstring at the Queensland championships three weeks ago so I’ve had an enforced lay-off since,” he said.

“I injured it again on the way out today so I’m not sure how it will be for the team races tomorrow.

“I like the short course, you have to go hard and fast, and we’ve had heats and semi-finals today so it’s been tough racing.”

Swim specialists Kurt Hanson (Freshwater) and Simon Nothling (Bondi) went stroke for stroke in the 30-34 years division today, with Nothling winning the surf race ahead of Hanson, but the Sydney Northern Beaches competitor turning the tables in the surf tube final. A bronze in the board race gave Hanson a full set of medals for the day and confidence leading into the team and open events.

The first two days of the week-long carnival are dedicated to Masters events, before the open and age group competition starts on Wednesday.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by

Ian Hanson

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