AYE, CURRUMBIN! BARBARIANS STORM TO BOAT GOLD

Scarborough, WA, March 22: After finishing second behind heavyweights North Cottesloe in 2006 and 2007, Currumbin Beach finally claimed the open boat title at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving championships at Scarborough Beach today.

The Currumbin Barbarians crew of sweep Lyall Clark, Nick Parr, Randall Martin, Glen Williams and Peter Atkins snuck home in a blanket finish that saw four boats cross the line on the same wave.

Three-time winners North Cottesloe were second, with Jan Juc third.

"Everyone knows how good North Cottesloe are, so many people thought they were next to impossible to beat, especially on their home beach and you wonder how often you have to come up against them," Clark said.

"But to beat them here is just fantastic."

North Cottesloe were seeking the opportunity to set a new standard as the first crew to win four consecutive open boat titles and for much of the race looked set to achieve their goal.

While never leading by much, they were in front all the way until within sight of the beach.

Then a wave came for the pursuing crews and suddenly it was neck and neck between North Cott, Currumbin, Jan Juc and Austinmer.

There was only a coat of varnish in it at the finish but that was enough to send the Barbarians, their clubmates and their supporters into ecstasy and leave the Perth crowd disappointed.

For Currumbin second stroke Glen Williams it capped off what had been an even more frustrating wait.

Williams had previously finished with silver in four boat finals and when asked how he felt, his prediction of "look out Perth" suggested he was planning to celebrate hard.

In other results the reserve boat final was won by Kirra, Mooloolaba won the open women's, Austimer won the under-23 men's, the under-23 women's went to Palm Beach and Avoca Beach took out the under-19 men's.