FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015 • #AUSSIES100
IS IT MILLER TIME? GEORGIA CHASING IRONWOMAN DOUBLE
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BREATH OF LIFE AT BILINGA JACQUELINE GREEN
LEFT: Noosa Heads participating in the First Aid competition at Bilinga.
THEY’RE the events at the core of what the surf life saving movement is all about. Treating members of the public, keeping beaches safe and acting swiftly in times of need. Bilinga is playing host this week to the Life Saving component of the program. It features the Champion Lifesaver, Patrol Competition and First Aid events.
The first aid competition enhances their Surf Life Saving skills.
AUSSIES LEGEND TAKES A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE
Barry Antella OAM It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the physical and mental skills required to be a lifesaver, honing in on the traditional and cultural aspects of Australian Surf Life Saving. “The first aid competition enhances their Surf Life Saving skills. It’s the things they do on the beach all the time. The scenarios are realistic and are set around Surf Life Saving and events that can happen day to day on patrol,” lifetime Queenscliff member Barry Antella OAM said.
The first aid event has set simulated accident scenarios, each to be completed within a set time frame. “A lot of the patrolling on the beach involves first aid, and this particular event is run to really hone in on those skills. A lot of scenarios that we do are based around what you might find on a busy beach,” Official Adrienne Lowe said.
The Open Patrol competition saw a changing of the guard with Alexandra Headland SLSC ending the 13 year reign of Northcliffe to win the gold. It was an “Alex” clean sweep with Bradley Doughan and Kate Thornton winning the Champion Lifesaver events. Bradley edged out Michael White who had won the event for the past five years.
EVEN Aussies legend Trevor Hendy couldn’t help but be amused when he noticed this photo of himself on the 100 Years of The Aussies lightboxes. “Gee, who’s that young bloke?,” the six-time Australian Ironman Champion said as he checked out The Aussies memorabilia on display. He was in action at North Kirra yesterday competing in the Open Board Race.
BROADCASTERS BAND TOGETHER TO SURF THE WAVES LEFT: Veteran producer Murray Lomax at the helm of The Aussies 2015 broadcast.
events this summer. Murray Lomax, who works behind the scenes as a Producer and Director, says they have three main jobs.
If it was being live streamed to TV stations there would be 100 plus people working on it. Murray Lomax ABBY BLAIKIE KEEPING cameras across more than 400 events being contested by around 7000 competitors at three venues is a big job on anyone’s scale. It left me wondering, how do they make it
happen? So I decided to spend a day with the Castle Media team to get an idea of how the surf hits the screen. The fact is, experience counts. The Aussies 2015 is part of the Summer of Surf series being broadcast on Fox Sports. The team has been at all the big surf lifesaving
“Firstly, the big screen coverage so people here know what’s going on,” Murray said. “Then there is providing the pictures for the live stream coverage on the five selected days on the internet, and of course to produce two, two hour programs for Fox Sports.”
The 25-strong Broadcast Crew, most of who are freelancers, carry out these three tasks throughout the nine days of competition. “We’re like a band,” Murray said. “We all know how to play our own instruments. It’s just working out how to work together.” The team includes editors, producers, camera crew and audio operators. Quite a small team for the amount of work they do in their 10-hour days. “If it was being live streamed to TV stations there would be 100 plus people working on it,” Lomax said. Clearly a successful Broadcast team relies on every member understanding which instrument their teammates play and making sure that the musicians work together to make good music.
DO YOU HAVE A PRE-RACE SUPERSTITION? BEN COOPER ALEX HEADLAND SLSC, QLD “I have to get a kiss off my coach, Jiff Lemonseed before each race.”
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02 The Aussies 2015
JACKSON MAYNARD CURRUMBIN SLSC, QLD
CAITLIN CALLAHAN BYRON BAY SLSC, NSW
“I have to tap my head five times as soon as I stand on the start line.”
“You can’t eat fish! Otherwise it’s bad luck as the fish help you out there.”
HELEN DEAS, ALLISON ROBERTS AND SHARON DEANS COOGEE SLSC, NSW “Chocolate bullets are the key to Masters success.”
Friday April 17, 2015
NORTHCLIFFE SWIMMERS CELEBRATE CLUB’S GREAT EIGHT FAR LEFT: Northcliffe’s winning open Surf Team (from L to R) Sam Sheppard, Jordan Harrison, Shannon Eckstein and Caine Eckstein. LEFT: Tom Fraser-Holmes emerges from the surf ahead of the field.
DAVID MOASE THE Shannon Eckstein-led reign of Northcliffe in the Open Men’s Surf Teams will continue for another year. Eckstein crossed the line in second place in yesterday’s final, behind Olympic swimmer Tom Fraser-Holmes, to lead yet another dominant performance from the powerhouse club. His team-mates Caine Eckstein, Jordan Harrison and Sam Sheppard all finished in the top 11 to lose just 22 points, and win ahead of Mooloolaba (57 points) and the Northcliffe B team, which was tied with Elouera and Manly but won bronze on a countback. It was the eighth consecutive triumph in the Surf Teams for Northcliffe, with Eckstein
present for every triumph since 2006. “You look back through who has been in the teams – Jeremy Cotter, Zane Holmes, Pierce Leonard have been in them, Caine has been in a lot – so it’s pretty special to be part of this,” the Ironman champion said. “I get quite nervous before this event. It means a lot to us.” It might have been eight years since Fraser-Holmes’ last swam in a serious surf race but he is quickly getting rid of any rust and showed with his speed across the bank he will be right in the mix for Saturday’s Open Surf Race final. Even by Northcliffe’s lofty standards the finish of the Open Women’s Surf Teams final was a terrific achievement. As the leading swimmers emerged from
the surf it was a wave of maroon and white with the club filling the first six places and taking the first two spots in the final placings. Noosa Heads was third. Kristyl Smith, swimming for the B team, crossed the line first, followed by the A team quartet Eliza Smith, Courtney Hancock, Rebecca Creedy and Harriet Brown. Sixth place was filled by 17-year-old C team swimmer Greta Petersen, who then stepped onto the start line for the under-19 final and placed second to lead her team to victory. “I really didn’t expect to come sixth in the open race,” Petersen said. “Those two swims are my best at an Aussies so far. I think I’m a lot fitter and stronger this year. “I’m really positive for the next couple of days competing in the Surf Race in Opens and under-19s.” Northcliffe’s under-19s finished ahead of Mooloolaba and City of Perth, while the club made it a golden trifecta when it took out the under-17 Surf Teams from Manly and Mooloolaba.
CLUB IN FOCUS
BUNDABERG SLSC, QUEENSLAND BUNDABERG SLSC has around 180 members and was formed in 1921. Due to such small numbers they combine with neighbouring clubs Moore Park and Elliot Heads when it comes to competing at The Aussies, training under the guidance of Craig Holden. With two boat teams, three Masters competitors and two Open athletes, a strong team of 15 has made the journey to contest The Aussies. Emma Finnis has already won the club a silver medal in the under-19 Champion Life Saver competition. Not only are they home to some wonderful Surf Life Savers, they hold the record for winning the most Open March Pasts at The Aussies.
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GEORGIA LOOMS AS DOUBLE TROUBLE IN IRONWOMAN IAN HANSON NEWPORT’S defending Australian Under 19 ironwoman champion Georgia Miller has successfully qualified for the next rounds of the Under 19 and Open ironwoman events. The winner of 11 gold medals, including the Under 19 and Open Ironwoman double at NSW State Championships, won her heat of the open ironwoman yesterday ahead of two-time National Champion Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) and Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe). She then backed up to finish third in heat two of the under 19s to Avoca ski star Kaitlin Matuschka and Lana Rogers (Noosa Heads). The rescheduled program will now see the Open ironwoman semi-finals first up tomorrow morning with the Under 19 quarter-finals. The open heats also saw defending champion Liz Pluimers won heat two from North Burleigh team mate Tara Coleman with Allira Richardson, now representing Cooks Hill, third. Pluimers and Coleman combined yesterday with heat four winner Brodie Moir to win the women’s open board relay gold. She won her heat from Devon Halligan (Northcliffe) and Jordan Mercer (Noosa). The other heat saw Northcliffe trio, 2012 Australian champion Rebecca Creedy (Northcliffe) win from 2011 and 2013 winner Courtney Hancock, with Maddy Dunn third. MEANWHILE Ali Day is chasing a perfect end to a memorable season as he eyes the Open Ironman final. The Mooloolaba star, who won his first Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series in January, progressed safely through the opening round of the ironman today. Along with Day, all of the top contenders qualified for the quarter-finals of the Ironman that will be raced on Friday. The first round heats were won by Dane Farrell (Elouera), Cory Taylor (Northcliffe), Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe), Max Beattie (Northcliffe), Tim Schofield (Terrigal), Matt Bevilacqua (Mooloolaba) and Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe). Among the qualifiers for the quarter-finals were five former winners of the Open Ironman title, Shannon Eckstein, Ky Hurst (Kurrawa), Pierce Leonard (Southport), Nathan Smith (Manly) and Cam Cole (Mooloolaba).
Did you know that Pt Lonsdale (VIC) not only won the invitation/demonstration Women’s Boat Race at The Aussies 1995 but they also won the first ever official Open Women’s Boat race at The Aussies at Kurrawa, 1997. Both times with a slightly different team?
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RIGHT : Bulli boys battling a rare wave.
CENTRE : MacMasters Beach master the waves. RIGHT : Jett Kenny jetting toward the finish line.
LEFT : Anglesea eyes the finish. RIGHT : Udaera dolupis sitatectet eum raectatiis apit faceperuntur accusan delisim endigene laut am sit
ABOVE : Tidy jump start from Elouera in the Boats.
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04 The Aussies 2015
LEFT : City of Perth tackles the Rescue Tube race.
Friday April 17, 2015
LEFT : Cooks Hill smiling for the photographer.
RIGHT : Flat out Kurrawa boys after the Board Rescue.
LEFT : Northcliffe girls showing off their FINZ.
ABOVE : Chief photographer shooed out on his birthday.
LEFT : Kurrawa number 1 in the under-17 Ski Relay.
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Championship photos available at harvpix.com
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FROM SEAT TO SWEEP CLAUDIA FERGUSON ALL the way from Jan Juc, Victoria, Guy Mackinder is one of just four A-grade boaties who is both a competitive rower and sweep. Mackinder has rowed in the Open Men’s surfboat division and is currently sweeping in Jan Juc’s Men’s Masters and under-23 Women’s Surf Boat crews. Before this Aussies, Mackinder had two silver Aussies medals to his name as a rower and on Wednesday he added a third, but this time as a sweep for the Men’s 120 years Masters Final. The under-23 Jan Juc Girls, Amelia Elsworth (stroke), Holly Tubby (2nd Stroke), Molly Dunstan (bow) and Rachel Mather (2nd bow) all live on the south coast of Victoria and train regularly
in flat sea conditions similar to the conditions at Tugun yesterday. “We are used to these conditions although it still comes down to the day, with the standard of crews up here anything can happen,” said Mackinder. “My motto has always been - keep getting through each round and get through to the next day - being the finals on Saturday.” This is the first time at The Aussies for some of the under-23 girls first time at The Aussies, despite this Mackinder is confident that his team will do well. “The Girls won the Victorian State Titles and a couple of local comps this year which has given them a boost along and we’ve come up here with a bit more confidence,” Mackinder said.
CURRUMBIN TO THE RESCUE LEFT : Hard training paid off for the Currumbin Viking under-19 Rescue Tube Rescue team, who are over the moon with their win.
MORGANA JONES THE Currumbin Vikings under-19 Rescue Tube Rescue Team channeled a year of disappointment to win Aussies gold. Prue Davies, Georgia Meredith, Chloe Sterry and Chandler Searle used last year’s disappointing campaign at Scarborough to inspire their Aussies 2015 tilt.
“We have been training since last Aussies for this. We have been even training on Sundays, that’s how dedicated we have been,” Prue said. “We all put in one hundred percent effort, it was exactly the outcome we were hoping for so we are over the moon.” The training paid off as the Vikings surged to a comfortable victory.
MATT BEVILACQUA NUTRI GRAIN IRONMAN, WORLD SILVER MEDALLIST & REIGNING QUEENSLAND CHAMPION What does The Aussies mean to you? The Aussies means a great deal to me! It brings the whole nation of clubbies together and involves all of the states. It was great to see the youth compete on the weekend too who are then able to stay and watch us compete and it’s just a really special competition. Do you have a special memory from previous Aussies? My favourite Aussies memory would have to be the Ironman final a couple of years ago when Cam Cole won. I was lucky enough to be in that sprint finish. It was probably the loudest I have ever heard a crowd and it was a massive adrenaline rush. Definitely something I won’t forget! You’ve got many events to compete in, what are your hot tips for backing up between races? Kingy makes us warm down after every event. We always make sure we go for a swim whether it’s a heat, a quarter or a semi. I think staying off your legs, resting when you can and getting back to the tent are three very important things.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE AUSSIES ISABELLE SHARMAN PORT SORELL SLSC, TASMANIA
CAINE ECKSTEIN NORTHCLIFFE SLSC, QLD
“It’s my first Aussies, I love the atmosphere, it’s really friendly. I am not used to seeing so many people gathered together.”
“The long season coming to an end and to go out with a bang”
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06 The Aussies 2015
ANDY AND MONTANA SMITH “To go swimming and to watch Daddy race.”
KIERAN DAY CRONULLA SLSC, NSW “The camaraderie and competitors all together at the end of the season”
Friday April 17, 2015
FAR LEFT : (from L to R) Jackson Borg, Ejay Schaffer, Charlie Brooks and Toby Boyce celebrate their National Title. ABOVE AND LEFT : The boys at various stages throughout their junior lifesaving development.
FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW MORGANA JONES TWO good mates from Newport SLSC who started their Surf Life Saving journey as under-6 Nippers have celebrated together as national champions. Charlie Brooks and Jackson Borg joined with Ejay Schaffer and Toby Boyce to win
the under-17 Surf Team final, 24 hours after a video malfunction forced the race to be re-run. “It feels pretty awesome. I was never that good in the young ages but I kept at it and to win a gold medal feels amazing,” Jackson said. “I was feeling good but you can never be sure who won after a team’s race. But I’d
GERMAN’S EUROVISION FOR THE AUSSIES
ABOVE : Mooloolaba’s German connection Luca Hillen is enjoying his time in the Aussie sunshine.
JOEL BEVILACQUA PEOPLE come from far and wide to compete at the Australian Titles, but few will have travelled as far as 18-year-old Luca Hillen. Luca comes from Rheurdt, a small village in Germany and arrived in Australia at the start of
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the New Year to train with Mooloolaba SLSC on the Sunshine Coast. He made the move to Mooloolaba after watching his idols Ali Day and Matt Poole in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman series, which he says has a strong following in Germany. Luca has been involved in Surf Life Saving since he was 10, competing mainly in pool rescue which is very popular in European countries. Back home, Luca is also the under-19 Beach Flag Champion but is only contesting water events at The Aussies 2015. This is quite the achievement seeing as Luca had never been in surf before arriving in Australia. With the closest beach being over four hours away, Luca and his DLRG HalleSaalekreis teammates instead train on a lake between April and September. Training in the winter months is virtually impossible due to icy cold conditions. Luca is competing alongside his idols for his adopted club Mooloolaba this week and will soak up the sun before returning home in July.
much prefer a team gold to an individual gold. The feeling is awesome.”
I kept at it and to win a gold medal feels amazing Jackson Borg
POWER COUPLE BOUND BY MURPHY’S LAW
This is a team that goes way back. Charlie, Jackson and Ejay were teammates in the same event as under-12’s. Ejay and Toby were both pool swimmers and started surf lifesaving to broaden their skills. “It is a fun sport, good to be outdoors and everybody is happy,” Ejay said. And everybody is now a national champion!
LEFT : Jared and Rebecca Wiseman with their 9-month-old son Murphy.
JOEL BEVILACQUA JARED and Rebecca Wiseman would have been forgiven if they had taken a year off training and competing this year. The Tasmanian couple only had a baby nine months ago, but they’re not letting that stop them. Their new biggest supporter, baby Murphy, will be watching his Mum and Dad compete for the Devonport SLSC this week in the safe hands of his grandparents. Incredibly, Rebecca is the reigning Ironwoman and Board champion of Tasmania, winning the titles only eight months after Murphy arrived. The couple are no strangers to The Aussies,having won silver in the open mixed double ski in 2013. They’re hopeful of contesting the event again, but there is a catch.
Rebecca will have to pass personal trainer husband Jared’s fitness test first. She fractured her wrist while playing social basketball last month. Jared, who is also a former Tasmanian Ironman champion, will also be contesting the single ski. “We are not as fit as we want to be, we have done minimal training for obvious reasons, but we will give it a red hot crack,” he said.
Did you know that at the 1980 Aussies in Maroochydore, the US TV giant, HBO brought 13 camera teams to shoot an episode of their US distributed television show. The result was, ‘USA Box Office Australian Championships 1980’ and Grant Kenny was one of its stars.
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Friday April 17, 2015