MASTERS OF THE SURF START 2009 AUSSIE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Scarborough, WA, March 17: The ageless warriors of the surf returned to the water today at the start of the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Scarborough Beach in Perth.

More than 6000 competitors and official will flock to the golden stretch of sand during the next six days for the biggest event of its type in the world. David Moase reports....

The showcase of surf sports will climax on Sunday with the final of the blue ribbon Ironman and Ironwoman races as well as a host of other finals.

Today was the opening day of competition in the Masters Championship, for competitors aged 30 years and over.

While the skills of some of the athletes have faded with time, their competitive fires still burn strongly and were put to the test along the two kilometre stretch of beach where the championships are being held.

Intermittent showers and choppy one metre surf provided testing conditions for the veterans of the sport, and none more so than 81-year-old Gordon Godwin, of Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast, the oldest entrant in the championships.

At the other end of the competitive age scale, former Ironwoman competitor Kirsty Bowlay of North Burleigh, Qld, proved there is plenty of petrol left in her tank with impressive performances in the women's 30-34 years division.

Bowlay, who will compete in the open division of the championships from Thursday, won two gold medals in yesterday's events, taking out the surf race and rescue tube race.

She waged a competitive war on water with rival Lisa Munro of Victorian club Half Moon Bay, who relegated her to second place in the board race and the Ironwoman.

Former Australian Ironman champion Steve Pullen won the men's 30-34 years surf race and then looked to have the Ironman in his grip until striking trouble nearing the end of the concluding board leg.

Within sight of the beach Pullen, of Sunshine Beach, Qld, was unable to catch a wave and was passed by Nic Marshall of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, who went on to win the race, and Paul Buttel of Wanda, who finished second. Pullen placed third.

Freshwater's evergreen Paul Lemmon took out the surf race/Ironman double in the 40-44 years age group, as well as placing second in the board race.

Tasmanian Don Marsh of the Carlton Park club struck double gold in the 55-59 years division, winning the surf race and the ski race.

It was a triple triumph for Dale Mowbray of Swansea Belmont who dominated the women's 50-54 years division, winning the rescue tube, the Ironwoman and the board race.

Manly's Christie Krenkals scored dominating wins in the surf race and the rescue tube race in the women's 40-44 years division while Anna Ballara of Northcliffe, Qld, won that age group's Ironwoman and board race.

The Masters competition will continue tomorrow (Wednesday, March 18), when the Australian Interstate Championship will also be held.

The Open and age group events of the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will commence on Thursday, March 19.