NORTHCLIFFE LIFESAVERS CREATE "AUSSIES" HISTORY

April 2: Northcliffe lifesavers Damien Moffrey and Trent Rowe have today written their names into the Surf Life Saving history books on the opening day of competition at the DHL 2011 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

Moffrey and Rowe became the first lifesavers to win 10 consecutive gold medals when they spearheaded the six-strong Northcliffe team to its tenth consecutive Open Patrol Team Championship.

An extraordinary streak that started at Kurrawa back in 2002, when they ended Currumbin's ten-year reign.

The team of Moffrey, Rowe, two-time Champion lifesaver Stuart Snell, Nick Pluimers, Jake Nicholson and Kathryn McKenzie defended their title own title and won Northcliffe's tenth defeating Jan Juc (VIC) and Alexandra Headland (QLD).

The Patrol competition is a true lifesaving competition that combines surf sports with lifesaving in a thorough test of physical surf skills, practical and theory tasks involving racing, rescue and or first aid situations.

"Trent and I have been in the team for the past decade and it's a huge thrill to win ten for ourselves and for Northcliffe," said Moffrey, whose brother Drew was in the first five teams between 2002 and 2006.

"There are members of the Currumbin teams who have won five and six championships in their streak but to be part of this winning team for that long is very special and I think I can now retire happy.

"I'm not getting any younger, I have a young family and I must admit I did struggle a bit on the board, but I'm very proud of the team and there is no doubt with youngsters like Jake Nicholson in the team the future is very bright.

"The other clubs, Jan Juc and Alexandra Headlands are on the improve and they have kept the pressure on us.

"Before the result came out I knew it was going right down to the wire and it is always exciting to hear the results read out, realising all the hard work has been worth while."

Meanwhile the under 17 Patrol Team competition was an all Queensland affair and an all Sunshine Coast affair with Sunshine Beach winning its second gold medal in the event (they won in 2008) ahead of 2009 champions Dicky Beach (1) with Dicky Beach (2) taking bronze.

Tomorrow will see the Champion Lifesaver gold medals decided with Northcliffe's Stuart Snell gunning for his third straight title while defending Champion Woman Mel Pelly from Manly will be out to add title number four since 2005.