DHL 2011 AussiesTuesday, April 5, 2011.Issue 1sls.com.au/aussies

P reparations are complete and now it is time to ‘Come Together’ for the DHL 2011 Australian Surf Life

Saving Championships.After an exciting weekend of Masters

competition, competitors in the Open, Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 age groups are set to hit the waves and the sand for six days of exciting competition.

Events are scheduled to start in all water competition areas today, with the first of the finals set to be held later in the day.

Gold medals are programmed to be decided in the surf teams events for open women, Under-19s, Under-17s and Under-

15s, while the opening rounds of many events, including reserve and Under-23 men’s boat races, the Open ski race and the Under-15 Cameron relay, will be contested.

At a media conference to launch the championships yesterday, Surf Life Saving Australia president Graham Ford wished competitors all the best for the days ahead.

“The theme of the championships this year is ‘Come Together’, bringing surf lifesavers from around Australia, from all the different clubs, different states, together,” he said.

“Besides the athletes we’ve got a huge contingent of volunteers, all the officials - some 500 - plus all the support staff.

“It’s a huge event and we’re really looking forward to some great competition.”

For six-time Australian Ironman champion Trevor Hendy, who was the special guest at yesterday’s event launch, the approach of another Aussies is reason for excitement.

“I remember being a kid at the Australian championships for the first time and seeing everybody who’s involved in Surf Life Saving in Australia and how much they love it,” he said.

“It’s what we’re all about – we’re all about volunteering, we’re all about competition, we’re all about mateship and when all of us turn up in one place at one time it’s an amazing feeling.

“I just had that feeling of goosebumps when I looked out of the tent today onto the beach.

“You can’t explain it when you’ve trained for eight months and you’re a young guy or girl and you’re about to line up again – there’s a feeling of something pretty exciting and pretty amazing.

“It’s great to be here at Kurrawa – it’s an amazing venue.”

Kurrawa’s Ky Hurst, winner of 27 Australian championships gold medals and a veteran of the Aussies at 30 years of age, is still not above getting excited about the biggest event of the Surf Life Saving calendar.

“This time of year is always very exciting,” he said at yesterday’s media conference.

“It is a long time since I won an Ironman title and it is my main aim at Kurrawa this week.”

Aussies Joy: Terri sullivan on her way to eight gold medals in Masters events at the weekend. Report page 2.

ALL SYSTEMS GO: Star athletes (from left) Shannon Eckstein, Melissa Howard, Trevor Hendy, Hayley Bateup and Ky Hurst at yesterday’s Aussies launch.

Surf Life Saving family ready to ‘Come Together’

Today’s HighlightsBOATS: Reserve Grade and Under-23 men’s heats.

OPEN MEN: Ski Relay heats/quarter-finals; Board Relay heats/semi-finals; Single Ski heats/round 2; Restricted Surf Race heats; Belt Race heats; Surf Teams heats.

OPEN WOMEN: Surf Teams heats/final; Board Relay heats; Double Ski heats; Ironwoman heats; Single Ski heats; Belt Race semi-finals.

UNDER-19 MEN: Surf Teams heats; Board Race heats; Belt Race heats; Board Relay heats; Ski Relay heats; Single Ski heats.

UNDER-19 WOMEN: Board Relay heats; Ironwoman heats; Surf Teams heats; Single Ski heats; Surf Teams heats/final.

UNDER-17: Surf Teams heats/final; Taplin Relay heats; Tube Race heats; Board Rescue heats; Ski Relay heats.

UNDER-15: Cameron Relay heats; Tube Race heats/round 2; Surf Teams heats; Board Rescue heats.

DHL 2011 Aussies sls.com.au/aussies Ι Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Lemmon adds to Aussies gold tally

Dyed in the wool masters keep on keeping on

Terrigal Ironman Paul Lemmon added a further two gold medals to his already extensive collection after taking out both the 40-44 years Ironman and surf race at the DHL 2011 Aussies.

It was the fourth year in a row that Lemmon has claimed the surf race and Ironman double, a feat made all the more impressive by the quality field assembled this year.

“I was racing neck and neck with Darren Mercer throughout the Ironman final – right up until the final sprint.

“The race was really tight and we pushed each other along; I think that’s what makes the victory so rewarding. I have enormous respect for Darren as a competitor, he has always been the benchmark in my age group and has achieved so much,” said the

school teacher at Brisbania Public School in Saratoga, NSW.

Lemmon will now turn his attention to the Open championships where, as a club coach at Terrigal SLSC, he will guide some of the country’s best junior talent.

“Terrigal has a quality group of juniors coming to Kurrawa and we’re hoping for a bit of success,” he said.

“Amy Nurthen will be one to watch,

particularly after her performances at the NSW State Championships where she won 10 gold medals.

“Amy’s win in the (NSW) Open Ironwoman final was great preparation and she should be right up there in both the Under-19 and open events.

“After the State Championships, a lot of the team caught bad head colds and are

still recovering - I hope my results inspire the rest of the team.”

Despite his success Lemmon, who has been involved in Surf Life Saving since he was a 10-year old nipper, said there was far more to the Aussies than just the competition.

“Surf Life Saving is a great community organisation; I love racing at the Aussies and catching up with old friends and rivals.”

LEMMON CRUSH: Terrigal’s tireless Paul Lemmon won the 40-44 years Ironman gold medal.

SURF MASTERS: Southport’s 150 years surf teams winners Greg Reddan (left), Glen Donovan and Mark Reaburn.

“I was racing neck and neck with Darren Mercer throughout the Ironman final – right up until the final sprint.” Paul Lemmon

Darren Mercer with dyed blonde hair, Terri Sullivan with more gold than a Spanish galleon, an Olympic

swimmer making her debut in the surf and more reunions than ANZAC Day.

That’s just a small snapshot of two days of the Aussies Masters competition at

Kurrawa beach with some of Australia’s greats rubbing shoulders with new masters and old masters who just love the camaraderie that their annual trek brings.

Ironmen of the past like Mercer (Noosa Heads), Grant Kenny (Noosa Heads), Robert Chapman (Elouera), Dwayne Thuys (Surfers Paradise) and Steve Pullen (Noosa Heads), who had won 11 Open ironman titles between them are still running and at times hobbling between legs but happy to be competing and reminiscing.

Mercer lost a bet with his Noosa under-17 surf team and had to dye his hair blonde and showed by example in the water, winning the board race and making a return to Ironman racing where he finished a close-up second to Terrigal’s four-time Masters champion Paul Lemmon.

They were joined by the likes of Southport greats Mark Bennetts, Mark Raeburn and Adam Sambrook, who all won gold again; 1984 Olympic sprinter and 1978 Australian beach sprint champion Peter van Miltenburg from Anglesea and his team mate from the Los Angeles Games swim team Dimity Douglas, who made her surf debut at 41 with Umina Masters – after making her Australian swim team debut at age 12 for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

“My son joined the Nippers at six and said I should join the surf club too and here I am – still doing breaststroke but this time I’m doing it in the surf and loving it,” said Douglas who was third in the 40-44 years Rescue Tube.

“I have just bumped into 1988 Olympian Janelle Elford who swims for Alexandra Headland and it’s just a lot of fun when

you see someone you know from a past life doing the same things and enjoying it so much.”

For Douglas, she went off with the Umina girls for ice cream and coffee to celebrate their successes.

Northcliffe’s champion Ironwoman Terri Sullivan also allowed herself a “small celebration” after winning eight gold medals in her Masters debut before preparing for the open competition despite limited training.

Sullivan, at 30, competing in her first Masters Championships cleaned up with gold medals in the double ski, ski relay, board relay and Taplin relay, the board

rescue, Ironwoman, rescue tube and board race - the double ski and board rescue with Tiarne Smith.

“I’ve had a great weekend. Tiarne and I have done a few events together and it’s good to go really well. The individual gold has been fantastic and the teams events just add to the tally and it’s points for the club,” said Sullivan.

Northcliffe also revelled in the 150 years teams events with former board paddling legends Gavin Hill and Bruce Kolkka and club coach and former Ironman star Barry Newman, and the board relay with the Kolkka brothers Bruce and Noel.

Then there were the family affairs. Perennial performers from Northcliffe, the Kolkka brothers Bruce and Noel recruited Barry Newman to win the 150 years board relay ahead of the three Iredale brothers Doug, Greg and Chris from Wanda.

After the medals were presented and it was off to those reunions, talk of times gone by and complaints of those aches and pains, still worth the annual trip to the Aussies.

Cottesloe SLSC life member Rob Watkins claimed surf race gold at the DHL 2011 Aussies on Saturday, finishing ahead of Bondi’s Cyril Baldock.

Watkins was competing in the 65-69 years age group for the last time and will be moving up into the over 70s next year.

“I’ll definitely be back next year,” he said. “I’ll be at the younger end of the age group again!”

Watkins has won the surf race four times in the past five years. “I enjoy competing at the Aussies,” he said. “It’s a fantastic way to meet up with old friends and rivals. I’ve been involved in surf lifesaving since I was 6 and I am now 69. I’ve had some damn

good races against some great people.”Watkins has also competed for

Queenscliff and Manly throughout his career and coached eight winning R and R teams at Bondi.

Watkins was a member of the winning R and R team with Cottesloe in 1963. He then won again two decades later in 1981 and 1983 with Queenscliff.

“It was great to be back at Cottesloe,” said Watkins.

“We had our 100 year celebration last year and have a healthy nipper movement. I hope my achievements show our younger members and the rest of the community that you’re never too old to have a go!”

Gold medal to Cottesloe life member Watkins

Mercer lost a bet with his Noosa under-17 surf team and had to dye his hair blonde and showed by example in the water

Masters PointscoreNorthcliffe came from behind to win the Masters Pointscore after Noosa Heads charged out of the blocks on day one.

The Top Ten Masters Pointscore1. Northcliffe (328)2. Noosa Heads (314.5)3. Queenscliff (141.5)4. Mooloolaba (130)5. Newport (114)6. Currumbin Vikings (110.5)7. North Burleigh (1108. Maroochydore (107)9. Byron Bay (107)10. Redhead (105)

BLOND AMBITION: Darren Mercer’s hair was looking different but his skills were the same.

DHL 2011 Aussies sls.com.au/aussies Ι Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Lifesaving ResultsMEN Champion Lifesaver:Open: S Snell (Northcliffe) M White (Alexandra Headland) S McKenzie (Semaphore) U19 Yrs: R McGregor (Northcliffe) J Findlay (Bundaberg) C Redden (Jan Juc) U17 Yrs: N Stevens (Dicky Beach) B Doughan (Alexandra Headland) L Yeates (South Curl Curl) U15 Yrs: P Tilleard (Sunshine Beach) Z Brown (Northcliffe) B Johnston (Bundaberg) 40+ Yrs: S Unicomb (Northcliffe) D Sibun (Jan Juc) A Shubitz (Coogee) 30-39 Yrs: T Rowe (Northcliffe) P Jefferson (Coogee) I Manley (Helensburgh / Stanwell Park)

WOMEN Champion Lifesaver: Open: K McKenzie (Northcliffe) M Pelly (Manly) K White (Alexandra Headland) U19 Yrs: B Seymour (Alexandra Headland) N Dreibergs (Trigg Island) I Hancock (Northcliffe) U17 Yrs: S Leng-Cole (Alexandra Headland) E Jeffcoat (Dee Why) S Scott (Kurrawa) U15 Yrs C Webber (Noosa Heads) C Short (Northcliffe) C Jess (Tannum Sands) 40+ Yrs: T Hutton (Dicky Beach) K Armstrong Smith (Umina) D Foote (North Steyne) 30-39 Yrs: J Cullity (Anglesea)

MIxED: Patrol:Open: 1. Northcliffe (Kathryn McKenzie, Damien Moffrey, Jake Nicholson, Nick Pluimers, Trent Rowe, Stuart Snell) 2. Jan Juc (Stephen Iannazzo, William Mccance, Leigh Ryan, Dean Sibun, David Ulbrick, Luke Van Meel) 3. Alexandra Headland (David Brown, Bradley Doughan, Jacob Doughan, Brigette Seymour, Katelyn White, Michael White) U17: 1. Sunshine Beach (Maddison Ashman, Georgia Nolan, Molly Redwood, Peter Tilleard) 2. Dicky Beach (Karlie Lenz, Jack Marchant, Tyla Mitchell, Nicholas Stevens) 3. Dicky Beach (Michael Eyles, Samuel Hull, Jessica Hutson, Ashleigh Scougall)

For Northcliffe’s Champion Lifesavers Stuart Snell and Kathryn McKenzie it was two long days of Patrol and Champion Lifesaver competition at the DHL 2011 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships – but the opening weekend was worth “the wait” in gold.

On Saturday, Snell and McKenzie were members of the gold medal-winning Northcliffe team that took out its 10th

Australian Patrol Championship but there was no rest for the pair and team mates Trent Rowe, Nic Pluimers and Jake Nicholson who all backed up for a slice of the individual pie.

And they weren’t disappointed with Snell capping off a dream weekend winning his third consecutive Champion Lifesaver title with McKenzie giving Northcliffe

a winning double, taking out the open female division.

Rowe won the 30-35 Masters gold medal, while Pluimers was fourth to Snell in the open competition and SA recruit Nicholson fourth to team mate Riley McGregor in the under-19s.

Welsh-born Snell, a school teacher at Surfers Paradise Primary, is a member of the Great Britain surf team and is one of Australia’s most established Ironmen, finishing 11th in last year’s Coolangatta Gold.

The Champion Lifesaver requires competitors from under-15s, under-17s, under-19s and Opens to contest the beach sprint, rescue tube, surf race and board races before their 40-question lifesaving theory paper and resuscitation - with the competition going for most of the day.

Snell, who has overcome a nagging bursa in his shoulder that has required cortisone injections, was the dominant performer in the water, winning the rescue tube with fins, the surf race and the board race and headed to Broadbeach for the theory where he scored 37 out of 40 questions in the theory and 39.50 points out of 40 in his resuscitation.

But Alexandra Headland’s Michael White, the 2007 and 2008 winner, has been challenging Snell over the past three years and that rivalry continued in 2011 with Snell winning the gold on 108.5 points ahead of White (106.25) and Sean McKenzie (Semaphore) third on 99.25.

“I had been out of the water for a couple of weeks in the lead up to the State and Aussies and had to have injections to help me through but the thought of winning three straight kept me going,” said Snell.

“To win a third Australian Championship has been my goal all season and I couldn’t be happier, but I knew from the start I would have to be on my toes.

“It caps off a great weekend personally and for the Lifesaving team at Northcliffe - and gives the club a great start to what I am sure will be an exciting week in the open competition.”

McKenzie became the first Northcliffe woman since Hayley Cahill in 2002 to win

the female Champion Lifesaver. The final points saw McKenzie dominate the swim, board and rescue tube to run out an easy winner on 108 points from defending and three-time champion Manly’s Melinda Pelly (99.5) and Katelyn White (Alexandra Headland) 85 points.

Long weekend worth the wait for gold

TIMES 10: Northcliffe’s patrol championship team celebrates 10 Aussies gold medals in a row.

STU-PENDOUS: Stuart Snell races to his third consecutive Champion Lifesaver title.

“Snell, who has overcome a nagging bursa in his shoulder, was the dominant performer in the water”

DHL 2011 Aussies sls.com.au/aussies Ι Tuesday, April 5, 2011

SKI-LICIOUS: Queenscliff ski relay team Damien Daley, Mark Clare-Nazer and David Slennett. OARSOME: This Austinmer women’s Masters crew showing how its done.

HIGH DIVE: South Maroubra’s Jackie Robinson takes the plunge.

MASTER BLASTERS: Wauchope-Bonny Hills Masters blast their way through the Kurrawa break.

PADDLE POWER: Northcliffe’s Anna Ballara shows the style that won her gold in the ski race.

WHAT A KRACKA: This masters paddler is a study of concentration.

GREEN WITH ENVY: Currumbin Viking Chris Maynard is first through the break.

FLAGGED: Missing that final flag can be a painful experience.

NIKON TOP SHOTSAll championship photos available online at harvpix.com