HUNTERS GATHERING LOTS OF ADMIRERS

SURF LIFE SAVING, April, 21 2013: TUGUN Hunters are four rows away from winning the 2013 Australian open women’s surf boat championship – according to Tugun supporters, anyway.

Sweep Bruce Zillman said the girls - Gen Bassingthwaighte (bow), Lisa Webber, Michelle Gaffney and Ann Bassingthwaighte - have been consistent all season and thoroughly deserved to make today’s big day of racing.
In the last two days at North Kirra they have had four rows for three wins and a second placing.
“They represented Queensland at the interstate championships at Stockton Beach, in Newcastle and won. They also won the final of the ASRL championships, also at Stockton Beach,” said Zillman.
“They won at carnivals during the season with a good victory at Mooloolaba about a fortnight back. The girls have trained hard and deserve to make the final day at the Aussies. They just need a little bit of luck in running.”
Mooloolaba A, Bilgola Black and Lorne Edge impressed in winning their quarter-finals.
South Curl Curl Sapphires, under sweep Mark ‘Gus’ Spiteri, finished fourth to Lorne Edge and are defending the title for their club.
Bow rower Alex Handley said their 2012 champion crew, Zauance, had retired, with the girls getting married, having babies and cycling.

“They are still very fit,” said Handley.
World champions Batemans Bay, swept by Neil Innis, looked dangerous when they convincingly won their open men’s quarter-final from Elouera Wilko, Bondi Surfbather and Mooloolaba A.
Innis said they rowed onto a sandbar at the NSW championships to finish third behind Bilgola and Mona Vale. They were also third at the ASRL championships.
“We have a new crew this season with crew members unable to train together often but they do plenty of individual personal training.”
Steve ‘Yappy’ Swain’s North Cronulla Gold crew caught a wave coming through the ‘gate’ to pull away from the field to win their quarter-final from Palm Beach Pirates (NSW), Collaroy Garricks and North Steyne Nuthuggers. All progressed to today’s racing.
Boat captain Liam Donohue, stroke for the Gold crew, said they brought four crews to the Aussies and have their open men and both U23 crews rowing on the finals day.
“Hopefully it will be a big day calling for celebrations,” said Donohue.
“Our crews train every day. Really you have to if you want to stay competitive.”
Lyle Clark’s Currumbin Barbarians caught a wave just after turning the cans to win fairly convincingly, beating current Australian champions Mona Vale and newly crowned NSW champs Bilgola with Northcliffe A being the fourth qualifying crew.
Bronte Bogey won their quarter-final from Currumbin Huscarls, Mona Vale Green and Manly Sawfish.
The Huscarls, swept by Matt ‘Chook’ Wildman, are Queensland champions and would love to collect Aussie gold for the club’s trophy cabinet.
Wildman said they had mixed success during the day but were pretty happy they won their way through to the big day of racing.
“We were not lucky off the beach and were within striking distance at the turning buoys but we came home well with about five crews catching the final wave,” said Wildman.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by

Ian Hanson

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