By Ron Lane
For many years the Australia Day surf carnivals held in Sydney at Manly and Freshwater have been considered top of the calendar.
With such a reputation they are attended by the top competitive clubs, thus ensuring that those who compete will be up against some of Australia’s finest.
If our lifesavers are to achieve, then this sort of competition is absolutely essential.
With Sunshine Beach and Noosa being aware of this, both clubs this year made the decision to have some representatives competing and looking at the results they definitely made the right decision.
There can be no doubt that the names of Sunshine and Noosa will be on the lips of many officials who worked these carnivals in the water and boat sections. What better way to start than to give a big well done to Sunshine’s U15 Ruby Nolan.
This young lady stunned not only officials but also her team mates by achieving the following on Thursday at Freshwater – first in the U15 surf swim and first in the iron woman, then as a team member first in the U/15 (female) Cameron.
Then at Manly on the weekend she made it a double by again winning the swim and iron woman and the Cameron relay and this was followed by a first in the board relay.
Another starting to draw attention was Max Moore who finished third in both the board race and board relay at Freshwater.
Add to this Ruby Nolan’s team-mates in the winning relays – Amelia Ross, Charlie McKinlley and Sophie Bolton (Cameron) and Charlie McKinlley and Sophie Bolton in the board.
In the men’s relay along with Max Moore, Flynn Ross and Hamish Selby made up the winning team.
With other members finishing in the top 10 in their events at both beaches, this must rate as one of Sunshine’s best results ever at a major carnival.
It’s no wonder that the results have made Coach Clint Robinson very happy with the progress.
Not to be outdone by the senior club the Sunshine Beach nippers for the first time ever, last weekend at Dickeys Beach, won the overall points score at a major carnival.
All looks well for the state and nationals.
Despite being in what amounts to their first season of serious competition Noosas U/19 girls’ boat crew continues to draw attention.
For the Australia Day weekend they also travelled to Sydney where they took part in the three carnivals two being at Manly and one at Freshwater.
Rowing at Freshie on Thursday the girls finished third overall and backed up at Manly on both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday at the Manly Open Carnival they finished fourth overall and Sunday, again at Manly, they finish in second place in the Australian Short Course Championships.
Boat sweep David Tomba said: “We couldn’t be happier. As new girls they are still learning but with their attitude to training and the results they have achieved we feel confident for the season ahead.”
It is interesting to note that the girls, Zali Kerr, Tayla Fox, Sinead Hayes and Zoe McKill, are just 16 years of age and as such still have another three years in their division.
As we have said many times before, the family structure has now become the backbone of the modern day surf clubs with not only the sons and daughters joining but the mums and dads as well.
So be it in Noosa.
For many seasons the Glassock family, consisting of mum and dad Jenny and David plus siblings Harry, Maggie and Archie, has made outstanding contributions to both the nipper and the senior clubs.
All have at various times been patrolling members with some holding the rank of patrol captain.
So, to the Glassocks many thanks and our complements for the year.
