Ron Lane
It is now 18 months since Wes Berg arrived at Sunshine Beach Surf Club and since doing so, has made an incredible positive impact within the club. This has resulted in all its athletes performing at their highest level. The former Nutri Grain Ironman, bought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.
The benefit of this has been the building of an incredible program, and establishing a culture at the club, which is changing the dominance of clubs on the Sunshine Coast. The club squad has grown in numbers, and success is also on the increase. The results at the recent Shannon Eckstein Classic, the biggest and final event of the series, saw an abundance of good results for Sunshine.
For example, Electra Outram has had a stellar season coming off the back of a 4th place overall in the recent Nutri Grain Series, and finishing 8th overall in the Summer of Surf Series. By doing this, she has shown consistency and dominance in the top Ironwoman ranks under coach Wes Berg. Another great performance came from Gemma Welch Smith who took out the open surf race, winning by a wave in front of the entire field: thus claiming, her maiden Shaw and Partners Summer of Surf Open Surf Race victory.
Others to perform and bring pride to their club were: Dylan Wilson, Ava Gooderham, Niamh Arthur and Brendan Otto. Dylan finished 3rd overall in the U17 ironman point score and dominated the U17 age group, Ava finished 3rd in the U15 iron woman a great result. Niamh is performing well in the U15 board section and Brendan Otto, as an U19 swimming in the open division, is also one to watch.
To finish on a high note, at the Sunshine Coast Branch Youth Titles, Sunshine on the Saturday, won the overall points score for water events by 52 points: thus, showing the results of a great program, run by surf sports director Brigid Duncanson.
It would have to be the best performance by the club in 12 years. Under the coaching duo of Wes Berg and wife Jade Berg, the morale and spirit is very high and everyone is happy to be racing under the red, yellow and black cap. For a long time, this section of competition was the domain of either Alexandra Headlands or Maroochydore: however, for now, the times they are a changing.
From over the hill at Noosa Heads SLSC, the Super Sunday Shaw and Partners, Shannon Eckstein Iron man classic also produced some good results. In the open women’s Run Swim Run, Finella Gibbs-Beal finished 1st, and in the men’s Nolan Carrel 3rd and Kilian Carrel 4th. The Open Women’s Board race saw Jordan Mercer finish 5th.
In the U17 Iron Women’s Mikaela Price finished 6th and the Open Women’s Double Ski Jordan Mercer / Carla Papac 3rd. For Super Saturday, the day prior, Open Women’s Ski Events saw great results for the Noosa Ladies, when Jordan Mercer/Carla Papac finished 1st in the Double Ski and in the Open Women’s Ski Relay, of Jordan Mercer/ Carla Papac/Courtney Bryant also finished 1st. All in all, great results for both clubs, from the Summer of Surf.
Now for the Queensland State Titles March 21st we wish both clubs the very best.
Outriggers.
Last weekend was indeed a big event for the Noosa Outriggers Club. It was the annual running of the iconic Sydney Harbour Challenge. This three-day event consists of a mini challenge on the Friday for novice OC1s and 2s as a warn up for Sydney. Friday’s race is for new paddlers to compete in this 12km race on the Harbour amongst ferries, sails and cruisers and give ocean racing a go.
Saturday is when the big guns meet to take on one of Australia’s biggest paddling challenges. This is a spectacular race physically and mentally attracting teams from all around Australia and Internationally. Ocean racing along Sydney’s cliffs requires confidence and skill. Sydney’s Ozone Downwinder hosted by Kurnell Outriggers is for small craft to race 20kms from Kurnell to Cronulla.
There were a few crews from Noosa who towed their canoes all the way to Sydney to compete and some were rewarded with great results. In Saturdays racing team Bodo steered by club President Bodo Letsches, took out the gold in the Masters Men’s, while Team Rocco came second in the Golden Masters Mixed. Their team mate Team Phil finished third in the same race.
On Sunday Glen Brown took 2nd in the Golden Masters Men OC1, while Flea White and K.Dee Root came 1st in the Women’s OC 2, and Chris Kelly 3,rd in the Senior Masters men’s paddling an OC 1. Next race in our zone will be hosted by Coffs Coast Outriggers. This is yet another success story when it comes to the performance of a good sporting club within our community: one which also provides for the youth of today.
Rugby League.
Over the weekend Noosa Pirates Rugby League Club travelled to Kawana where three teams had games in the Sunshine Coast 9s competition. In the reserve grade game, the Pirates made the final against Bribie Island, going down 4 nil. As the score indicates it was a very tight game and Pirates were unlucky not to score on several occasions: however, their free running, ball control plus the final score were good indications for the season ahead.
Both the women’s and the A grade had good wins and a loss each. However, they didn’t finish high enough on the ladder to make the final. All sides will now focus on full trial games, on 16 March at Pirate Park Tewantin. Head Coach Michael Duff was quite happy with the performance of the teams.
Regarding the lead up to the season, the coach is pleased with all aspects of the club life. “Our players at training, with good numbers in all grades, is very encouraging, and their attitude is very good. Add to this we will now field a third-grade side and this will be coached by Tony Mallory.”
From a supporters point of view the atmosphere at training nights is also tops: and most of all it is very notable that the vast majority going through their workouts, are fully dressed in club colours. This indeed tells us that club pride is definitely on the up and up. In the fight game there is a saying beware of the hungry fighter, but in rugby league they say, beware of the proud man. And the wearing of full colours at training is the first sign of pride.
For 16 March all trial games will be conducted on Field1, 1pm C grade Noosa Men’s vs Mary Valley, 2.30 Noosa Reserve grade vs South Toowoomba Tigers, 4.pm.Noosa A grade vs South Toowoomba. Then for Round 1of SCGRL Open Women’s Competition for 2024 will see Noosa vs Beerwah.
A trivial matter.
It may -be only a matter of trivial importance, but it is interesting to note the number of the youth within our community who are heavily involved in the many sports: and available to both boys and girls. All football codes, surf club nippers and juniors, swimming, little athletics net ball, tennis, amateur boxing, cricket, martial arts and now outriggers.
With our evening news being highlighted by an increasing number of violent acts, it makes you wonder just how many, are also playing sport. Some years ago, in Sydney, a judge dared to ask a youthful gang of hoons, how many of them, were indeed playing sport. When the arresting police officer answered, “No one is into any type of sport, your Honor.” No one stirred when the Judge answered, “Why am I not surprised.”
Why have these- tough- guy hoons, with his switch blade and Machete never indulged in sport, in particular one that requires self-discipline. Is it a lack of high school guidance, father interest or what. It certainly loads our debates with food for thought.
