By Ron Lane
The weekends inclement weather saw our beach patrols kept busy. On Saturday the Noosa patrols were faced with a big sweep with many surfers requiring help after being caught in strong drift. Quick response times from both the IRB teams and the Jet Rescue Ski saw some twenty five swimmers returned to the beach.
Sunshine Beach patrol captains reported a quite weekend. In competition Sunshine and Noosa sent teams to North Wollongong to contest round 3 of the Nutri-Grain iron man series
For Noosas Lana Rogers, Australian Iron Woman Champion, this carnival was what she needed. Competing in surf with big swell and a shore dump, Lana put in her best effort this season in winning the Open Iron Woman final. “I was very relieved and happy; a big swell and shore dump made conditions very tricky.”Despite having won the womens open surf race at the Coolum Round 2 of the series, Lana was not happy with her overall performance in the Iron Woman final.
Lana’s ski coach Sharlene Kelly said, ‘’She put herself on a clinic regarding this race and it paid dividends.” Once again this young lady has shown tons of determination and fighting spirit; and again team mate, 17 yr. old Electra Outram performed well narrowly missing a place in the final.
For Sunshine their team of youth also hit their straps winning the girls u/17 Taplin relay, boys second place in their u/17 Taplin and Amelia Ross won the u/17 girls ski race. In the Open division Sarah Perkins came second in the womens surf race and for the first time ever Ruby Nolan 16 made an Open Iron Womans final. A big well done to the coaches and youth of both clubs.
In keeping with club policy of helping other organisations when possible, the Noosa Club on Saturday morning extended the hand of friendship to members of the Brisbane G.P.S Rugby Union Old Boys Club.
The purpose of this is to assist the rugby players with their fitness. On arrival 23 first grade players under the guidance of their South African coach Elwee Prinsloo, where put through a lifesavers fitness program. Conducted by Noosas Education Manager Greg Mc Laughlin, they were broken up into teams then performed short ins and outs through the surf followed by beach runs and other exercises. At the end of the session Coach Prinsloo expressed their thanks; the program was then finished with a team barbecue. This is the second year that such a visit has been organized and it was again well accepted.
Last years visit was arranged by Noosa clubbie (patrol captain and fitness coach) Donald McKill: Donald is also now in his third year as President of the Dolphins Rugby Club. When one looks closely at the history of both clubs the number of local lads who have served both as lifesavers and rugby players it becomes easy to understand the connection within our community of these two great clubs. Also congratulations to Dolphins Kieran Kearney on his Hall of Fame Certificate of Merit for outstanding contribution to sport on the Sunshine Coast.
