NOOSA FIRES WITH MERCER AND PULLEN POWER

April 2: Noosa Heads, with the firepower of former Australian Ironman champions Darren Mercer and Steven Pullen in full cry, lead the Masters Pointscore after the opening day of the DHL 2011 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast.

Mercer, the 1996 and 1997 Australian Ironman champion, won the board race in fine style, combined with Pullen to win the board rescue and then won silver in a thrilling finish behind Terrigal's Paul Lemmon in a thrilling 40-44 years Ironman.

Lemmon, a multiple World Masters swimming champion and Masters surf sports athlete, came to Kurrawa to take the Ironman and showed why he is still one of Australia's fittest surf sports athletes to keep a very fit Mercer at bay in the closing stages.

He had earlier won the 40-44 years surf race ahead of Colin Braund (Nth Burleigh) and Rick Van Kampen (Coolangatta) before finishing second to Mercer in the board, which saw Currumbin's Brett Dowker sneak home for bronze ahead of Vikings team mate Michael Chan.

Pullen, who defeated Dean Mercer and Kane Huessner to win the National Ironman crown in 1998, had a field day.

He won the 35-39 years Ironman and Rescue Tube before taking silver to Mike Murray (Nth Burleigh) in the board and silver to Jason Foye (Nth Wollongong) in the surf race.

Pullen then revealed he was using today's Masters racing as a "warm up" for next week's open competition.

"I felt good out there today, a good warm up for next week's open competition," said Pullen.

"It's always good to race these guys my own age and I will be ready to take on the young fellows - it's always a lot of fun."

Pullen will line up against two-time and defending champion Pierce Leonard, four-time champion Ky Hurst and three-time champion Steve Pullen in an all-star Ironman Championship next week.

The Lemarseny boys Jeff and Alan also contributed to Noosa's overall lead - Jeff winning the 45-49 ski final from Chris Maynard (Currumbin) and Alan Boyce (Redhead) while Alan won the 50-54 years Ironman.

The girls contributed their fair share of points as well with Alison Pegg, Gina Lynch and Jenny Hales the stars.

Pegg dominated the 45-49 years age group, winning the surf race, rescue tube and Ironwoman; Lynch had a field day, starting with the 2km beach run before taking gold in the Ironwoman, Rescue Tube, surf race and board race while Hales won the board rescue with Robyn Jenkinson and single ski.

Jenkinson was also second in the surf race and rescue tube and third to Hales in the ski.

Two of the stars of the women's competition were Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe) and Naantali Marshall (Angelsea).

Sullivan, who contested this year's Ironwoman Series, is in her first year in Masters competition and easily accounted for her 30-34 years competition to win three individual gold in the board race, surf race and Ironwoman.

Marshall won five gold medals - four individual in the 35-39 years age group, taking out the Ironwoman, Surf race, board race and rescue tube and partnered Julia Cullity to win the board rescue.

Meanwhile in the 45-49 years men's age group, one of the most competitive on the beach, saw Freshwater's Peter Obern score a golden double in the Ironman and the surf race.

The Ironman saw Obern, a former under 18 Australian surf teams champion with the likes of Australian representatives Darren Bogg, Tim Ford and Cameron Dunn defeated Craig Chapman (Surfers Paradise) and former Grange and Surfers Paradise paddling legend Gavin Hill (Northcliffe).

He had earlier mastered the tricky one-metre conditions to beat Coogee's former Australian open belt champion Chris Gately and Noosa's Tim Mandeville in a willing surf race that attracted over 30 starters.

Hill later showed why he was considered one of the board paddling greats when he won the board race from Currumbin's Maynard and Andrew Bargenda from Bronte the bronze.

There was certainly some willing competition in the older men's ager groups with many of the competitors hobbling into the water but still very competent when they started swimming.

Robert Watkins, who after stints at Queenscliff and Manly and coach of eight Australian R and R titles with Bondi, won the 65-69 years surf race with his original WA club Cottesloe ahead of English Channel conqueror Cyril Baldock (Bondi) and Ross Taylor (Thirroul).

Woolgoolga's Ken Cook won the 70 years plus surf race ahead of Neville de Mestre (Nth Burleigh) who also won the rescue tube ahead of Warren Green (Wollongong City) and Cook while de Mestre added to his long list of Aussies gold in the Ironman.

At the conclusion of day one and with teams events to conclude the Masters competition tomorrow, Noosa Heads (211.5) lead Northcliffe (198) North Burleigh (90) Queenscliff (85.5) Mooloolaba (79) Byron Bay (75) Alexandra Headland (72) Maroochydore (72) Currumbin Beach (68.5) and Newport (68).

Masters competition resumes on Sunday with teams events from 8am. - IAN HANSON

DHL 2011 Masters Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships: Day 1: Gold Coast:

Male:

30-34 Yrs: Surf: N Marshall (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) C Meyers (Avoca Beach) M Bush (Currumbin Beach) Rescue Tube: J Dougherty (Yamba) M Bush (Currumbin Beach) R Sharpe (North Burleigh) Iron Man: C Meyers (Avoca Beach) M Kent (Redhead) N Marshall (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) Surf Board Rescue: Redhead A, Maroochydore Black, Southport A. Single Ski: B Hamilton (Avoca Beach) W Curry (Half Moon Bay) M Kent (Redhead) Surf Board: M Kent (Redhead) P Wotherspoon (Northcliffe) P Halfweeg (Maroochydore) 2km Run: A Carroll (Bronte) M Cahill (Miami Beach) C Garside (Northcliffe)

35-39 Yrs: Surf: J Foye (North Wollongong) S Pullen (Noosa Heads) T Read (Lorne) Rescue Tube: S Pullen (Noosa Heads) T Menzel (Manly) S Braine (Lorne) Iron Man: S Pullen (Noosa Heads) C Hosie (Tallebudgera) R Cooper (Southport) Surf Board Rescue: Noosa Heads Noosa 1, Kawana Waters B, Coolangatta A. Single Ski: S Spencer (North Burleigh) M Murray (North Burleigh) A Parry (Kurrawa) Surf Board: M Murray (North Burleigh) S Pullen (Noosa Heads) S Seddon (Half Moon Bay) Beach Sprint: J Maybury (Killcare) T Matchett (Warriewood) J Chapman (Newport) 2km Run: B Plunkett (Yamba) S Ballard (Shellharbour) J Tucker (Ocean Beach)

40-44 Yrs: Surf: P Lemmon (Terrigal) C Braund (North Burleigh) R Van Kampen (Coolangatta) Rescue Tube: C Braund (North Burleigh) D Jones (Queenscliff) T Haliday (Alexandra Headland) Iron Man: P Lemmon (Terrigal) D Mercer (Noosa Heads) M Chan (Currumbin Beach) Surf Board Rescue: Currumbin Beach B, Maroochydore Blue, Currumbin Beach A. Single Ski: K Jarrott (Maroochydore) M Waide (Currumbin Beach) C Lennox (Maroochydore) Surf Board: D Mercer (Noosa Heads) P Lemmon (Terrigal) B Dowker (Currumbin Beach) Beach Sprint: M Gedz (Queenscliff) B Dolly (Queenscliff) M Schnabel (Coledale) 2km Run: J Lishman (Cottesloe) D Minns (Apollo Bay) M Faddy (Bronte)

45-49 Yrs: Surf: P Obern (Freshwater) C Gately (Coogee) T Mandeville (Noosa Heads) Rescue Tube: C Gately (Coogee) C Chapman (Surfers Paradise) S Meares (Newport) Iron Man: P Obern (Freshwater) C Chapman (Surfers Paradise) G Hill (Northcliffe) Surf Board Rescue: Alexandra Headland Gold, Southport A, Surfers Paradise Gold. Single Ski: J Lemarseny (Noosa Heads) C Maynard (Currumbin Beach) A Boyce (Redhead) Surf Board: G Hill (Northcliffe) C Maynard (Currumbin Beach) A Bargenda (Bronte) Beach Sprint: P Sheahan (North Burleigh) N Kassulke (Manly) M Nolan (North Cottesloe) 2km Run: A Walker (City Of Perth) D James (Shellharbour) D Lee (North Wollongong)

50-54 Yrs: Surf: P Blackbeard (Northcliffe) S Chapman (Swansea Belmont) D Blackburn (Surfers Paradise) Iron Man: A Lemarseny (Noosa Heads) M Bennetts (Southport) G Clifford (Bronte) Surf Board Rescue: Byron Bay A, Northcliffe A, Surfers Paradise Gold. Single Ski: P Foster (Anglesea) G Juniper (Tallebudgera) D Iredale (Wanda) Surf Board: G Brodin (Byron Bay) N Kolkka (Northcliffe) N Carroll (Newport) Beach Sprint: C Parker (Mooloolaba) D Hutchison (Glenelg) P Pattinson (Byron Bay) 2km Run: S Bishop (Miami Beach) P Mirls (Southport) J Robson (North Bondi)

55-59 Yrs: Surf: P Openshaw (Brighton) S Mcbean (Northcliffe) G Iredale (Wanda) Rescue Tube: A Burns (Freshwater) P Openshaw (Brighton) W Haylock (Surfers Paradise) Iron Man: R Taylor (Mooloolaba) G Iredale (Wanda) B Kolkka (Northcliffe) Single Ski: K Jeffery (Kurrawa) S Keay (Mermaid Beach) B Kolkka (Northcliffe) Surf Board: C Mcguckin (Avalon Beach) B Kolkka (Northcliffe) G Crabb (North Avoca Beach) Beach Sprint: C Mccormick (Toowoon Bay) D Smith (North Narrabeen) M Iles (Avoca Beach) 2km Run: P Murphy (Alexandra Headland) J Mc Cullagh (Woolgoolga) M Thornton (Alexandra Headland)

60-64 Yrs: Surf: G Donovan (Southport) D Marsh (Carlton Park) L Brook (Port Macquarie) Rescue Tube: L Harris (Maroochydore) J Banks (Fairy Meadow) L Brook (Port Macquarie) Iron Man: D Marsh (Carlton Park) G Reddan (Southport) J Banks (Fairy Meadow) Single Ski: G Smith (North Entrance) R Slattery (City Of Bunbury) G Hepburn (Mooloolaba) Surf Board: G Adam (Redhead) R Fisher (Noosa Heads) D Marsh (Carlton Park) Beach Sprint: T Smithies (Newport) R Wilson (Queenscliff) D Griffith (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) 1km Run: G Reddan (Southport) D Bandy (Trigg Island) F Middleton (North Entrance)

65+ Yrs: Surf: R Watkins (Cottesloe) C Baldock (Bondi) R Taylor (Thirroul) Rescue Tube: L Wood (Maroochydore) R Watkins (Cottesloe) M Manning (Carlton Park) Iron Man: P Hennessey (Tacking Point) P Newton (Currumbin Beach) J Gordon (Mooloolaba) Surf Board Rescue: Maroochydore Black, Cronulla A, Alexandra Headland Gold. Single Ski: J Cahill (North Bondi) P Hennessey (Tacking Point) P Molineux (Maroochydore) Surf Board: P Hennessey (Tacking Point) A Nicholls (Northcliffe) R Taylor (Thirroul) Beach Sprint: P Hammond (Queenscliff) J Mcnamee (Clovelly) M Murphy (South Maroubra) 1km Run: P Hennessey (Tacking Point) P Newton (Currumbin Beach) A Nicholls (Northcliffe)

120 Yrs: Surf Boat: North Cronulla Gold, Clipboard A, Bondi Bondi Stalkers

140 Yrs: Surf Boat: Avalon Beach Red, Austinmer Blue, Met Caloundra Black. Beach Relay: Anglesea A, Newport Gold, Newcastle.

170 Yrs: Beach Relay: Grange B, Killcare Krocs, Grange A.

200 Yrs: Beach Relay: Queenscliff Red, Newport Gold, Glenelg Gold.

Female:

30-34 Yrs: Surf: T Sullivan (Northcliffe) T Smith (Northcliffe) C Smith (Redhead) Surf Race: J Gielis (Cudgen Headland) N Ladner (Mooloolaba) C Nicholls (Kurrawa) Iron Woman: T Sullivan (Northcliffe) T Smith (Northcliffe) M Kent (Redhead) Surf Board Rescue: Northcliffe A, Redhead A, Alexandra Headland Gold. Single Ski: J Kelly (Kurrawa) J Pike (Met Caloundra) T Sullivan (Northcliffe) Surf Board: T Sullivan (Northcliffe) M Kent (Redhead) T Smith (Northcliffe) Beach Sprint: C Donaldson (Kurrawa) D Strauss (Coledale) R Wright (Woolgoolga) 2km Run: T Benjamin (Alexandra Headland) C Jackson-Carroll (Rainbow Bay) 2km Run: G Lynch (Noosa Heads) J Cummings (Brighton) R Berry (Sorrento (Wa)

35-39 Yrs: Surf: N Marshall (Anglesea) S Perkins (Alexandra Headland) J Robinson (South Maroubra) Rescue Tube: N Marshall (Anglesea) J Robinson (South Maroubra) S Perkins (Alexandra Headland) Iron Woman: N Marshall (Anglesea) A Olander (Noosa Heads) L Wadling (Torquay) Board Rescue: Anglesea A, Noosa Heads Noosa 1, South Maroubra A. Ski: L Wadling (Torquay) L Brown (Redhead) L Myatt (Port Noarlunga) Surf Board: N Marshall (Anglesea) F Borg (South Maroubra) L Wadling (Torquay) Beach Sprint: K Stewart (Queenscliff) M Muir (Killcare) L Myatt (Port Noarlunga) 2km Run: A Zekulich (Kurrawa) L Myatt (Port Noarlunga) N Sandon (North Burleigh)

40-44 Yrs: Surf: D Miller (Bondi) A Ballara (Northcliffe) H Murray (Byron Bay) Rescue Tube: D Miller (Bondi) A Ballara (Northcliffe) D Douglas Byrne (Umina) Iron Woman: A Ballara (Northcliffe) K Fleming (Bulli) K Armstrong Smith (Umina) Board Rescue: Byron Bay A, Umina A, Northcliffe A. Single Ski: A Ballara (Northcliffe) K Estens (The Lakes) K Fleming (Bulli) Surf Board: H Murray (Byron Bay) A Ballara (Northcliffe) K Estens (The Lakes) Beach Sprint: A Nelson (Queenscliff) M Shields (Northcliffe) K Hall (Queenscliff) 2km Run: L Seary (Cudgen Headland) C Reid (The Lakes) K Boyd (Northcliffe)

45-49 Yrs: Surf: A Pegg (Noosa Heads) C Turnham (Port Macquarie) C Harrison (North Avoca Beach) Rescue Tube: A Pegg (Noosa Heads) C Turnham (Port Macquarie) D Van Ooi (Palm Beach (Nsw) Iron Woman: A Pegg (Noosa Heads) C Harrison (North Avoca Beach) F Rae (Palm Beach (Nsw) Board Rescue: Shellharbour Red, Avalon Beach Green, Palm Beach (Nsw) Black. Ski: K Irwin (Byron Bay) K Winter (Forster) F Rae (Palm Beach (Nsw)) Surf Board: C Harrison (North Avoca Beach) S Penman (Mermaid Beach) A Pegg (Noosa Heads) Beach Sprint: J Madden (Alexandra Headland) R Henderson (Queenscliff) J Emery (Clovelly) 2km Run: J Kagi (City Of Perth) J Colja (Cudgen Headland) A Murphy (Alexandra Headland)

50-54 Yrs: Surf: G Lynch (Noosa Heads) J Helson (Shellharbour) P Pettit (Coogee) Rescue Tube: G Lynch (Noosa Heads) T Taylor (Northcliffe) G Bradley (Mooloolaba) Iron Woman: G Lynch (Noosa Heads) D Mowbray (Swansea Belmont) J Trembath (Noosa Heads) Board Rescue: Noosa Heads Noosa 1, Palm Beach (Nsw) Green, Northcliffe A. Single Ski: D Mowbray (Swansea Belmont) G Lynch (Noosa Heads) J Trembath (Noosa Heads) Surf Board: G Lynch (Noosa Heads) C Magliano (Newport) P Mc Cubbery (Noosa Heads) Beach Sprint: S Southern (Newport) H Jarvis (Byron Bay) V Crick (Woonona)

55-59 Yrs: Surf: C Macauley (Cronulla) R Jenkinson (Noosa Heads) C O`Niell (Bronte) Rescue Tube: C Macauley (Cronulla) R Jenkinson (Noosa Heads) Iron Woman: J Hales (Noosa Heads) Board Rescue: Noosa Heads Noosa 1. Single Ski: J Hales (Noosa Heads) M Clarence (Swansea Belmont) R Jenkinson (Noosa Heads) Surf Board: M Clarence (Swansea Belmont) C Macauley (Cronulla) C Larssen (Cronulla) Beach Sprint: A Mcphee (Dicky Beach) S Eke (Cudgen Headland) K Armstrong (Collaroy) 2km Run: M Clarence (Swansea Belmont) S Eke (Cudgen Headland) H Porter (Queenscliff)

60-64 Yrs: Tube: R Kemp (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) C Nicholls (Kurrawa) N Ladner (Mooloolaba) Iron Woman: R Kemp (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) Single Ski: R Kemp (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) Surf Board: R Kemp (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) N Ladner (Mooloolaba) Sprint: L Smallwood (Collaroy) J Gielis (Cudgen Headland) J Rowland-Smith (Mooloolaba) 1km Run: L Smallwood (Collaroy) J Rowland-Smith (Mooloolaba) W Coghill (Maroochydore)

65+ Yrs: Surf Race: L Hill (Bondi) Tube: L Hill (Bondi) Beach Sprint: J Logue (Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest)

140 Yrs: Beach Relay: Queenscliff Red, Killcare Red, Mooloolaba A.

170 Yrs: Relay: Newport Gold, Alexandra Headland Gold, City Of Bunbury A. 200 Yrs: Beach Relay: Toowoon Bay Gals, Cudgen Headland Blue, Collaroy A.

Mixed: 65+ Yrs: Boat: Avoca Beach Tweakers.

70+Yrs: Surf Race: K Cook (Woolgoolga) N De Mestre (North Burleigh) P Andersen (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) Tube: N De Mestre (North Burleigh) G Warr (Wollongong City) K Cook (Woolgoolga) Iron Person: N De Mestre (North Burleigh) A Metti (Cronulla) Board Rescue: North Burleigh A. Single Ski: A Metti (Cronulla) A Salaris (Swansea Belmont) B Miley (North Burleigh) Surf Board: A Metti (Cronulla) N De Mestre (North Burleigh) W Green (Wollongong City) Beach Sprint: G Wilson (Mooloolaba) R Easton (Copacabana) B Sheahan (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) 1km Run: W Ryan (Tweed Heads / Coolangatta) 220 Yrs: Surf Boat: Dixon Park Dixon Park, Gerringong Jazz, Kirra Kirra.

240 Yrs: Surf Boat: Coolum Beach Coolum Socs, Long Reef Vets, Fairhaven Fairhaven Antiques. Beach Relay: Queenscliff Blue, Avoca Beach A, Northcliffe A.

Masters Club Pointscore: Noosa Heads 211.5 Northcliffe 198 North Burleigh 90 Queenscliff 85.5 Mooloolaba 79 Byron Bay 75 Alexandra Headland 72 Maroochydore 72 Currumbin Beach 68.5 Newport 68