Once again our beaches were crowded and except for a short period on Saturday morning the weather was great for visitors.
Despite many of our surf club members being on the Gold Coast for the running of the Coolangatta Gold Short Course and Long Course Events patrols were at full strength.
Sunday morning the Nipper Clubs were again active with great role ups at all three beaches; Noosa, Sunshine Beach and Peregian. At Noosa Sunday morning saw another bronze squad commence their basic training with some 25 members being signed up. With large Christmas crowds being expected our clubs will be looking for full patrol rosters.
Now that the roof has gone up on the new Sunshine Beach Surf Club there is quite a swell of excitement around town with many eagerly looking towards the finish of the project: all indications are that we will have a surf club second to none to provide beach safety for this magnificent stretch of beach.
On the weekend it was good to see Noosa Heads boat section extend the hand of friendship to Yeppoon a club in the far north region.
This club has formed a ladies reserve grade boat crew and with that region being a calm water beach the crew has accepted an invitation to drive to Noosa once a month for advanced training on open beaches such as Peregian.
“This was great experience for the ladies,” said coach /boat sweep Mick Gardner.
“There were a few big sets coming through and it was a real learning curve for the crew; some have not seen such big waves, but there they were not just looking but also rowing in it.”
We wish them well at their first carnival.
Last weekend it was show time for our lifesaving movement with the annual Coolangatta Gold Events being contested on the Gold Coast; and both Noosa and Sunshine Beach were represented.
For Sunshine they were represented in the under 17 boys team event (short course) finishing second and third overall in the Open.
This event which usually takes a winning time of two hours plus is a great starting platform for the young competitors and the experience and self-confidence gained is invaluable in the season ahead.
However for Noosa it has been a Gold to remember because for the first time in the club’s history in this event (ladies section) Noosa won the double: in the short course Courtney Bryant 19, in a time of 2hrs 34 min won the gold and in the big event the open female Coolangatta Gold Noosa’s Larna Rogers won the title in a time of 4 hrs. 27 min. 51 sec.
This win saw Rogers cross the line in first place just an incredible three seconds ahead of second place getter Jemma Smith.
The race which consisted of a 23km. ski, 2.1km.run, 3.5 km swim, 6km board and a second run of 7.1Km. came down to the last 50mts.
”We were running in soft sand so I stopped and took off my shoes; for me that made the difference.”
A tough three month training program drawn up by Coach Scharlene Kelly saw her in the best condition ever.
For Courtney her performance was also outstanding for she led in every section of the race.
“I have had great support: training with both Larna Rogers and Jordy Mercer and having Darren Mercer coaching and covering me as my board paddler during my swim leg.”
This has given Courtney the confidence to next year contest the long course.
Well done to Larna, Courtney and their support teams.
