SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2015 • #AUSSIES100 • SLS.COM.AU/AUSSIES
HENDYS SAVOUR THE ULTIMATE FAMILY MOMENT AT THE AUSSIES
PROGRESSIVE POINTSCORE Northcliffe 253; Currumbin 116; Newport 108; Mooloolaba 98; Manly 88; Kurrawa 85; Alexandra Headland 70; Maroochydore 55; City of Perth 53; Collaroy 44.
TOP OF THE PADDLE POPS LEFT: Brett Cassidy and Nick Pond claim gold in the Double Ski final.
IAN HANSON
“nine-and-a-half months of training came down to this race and it was tough going,
AUSSIES gold is a rare commodity at Sorrento Surf Club in WA so it was no wonder there was a party going on when Brett Cassidy and Nick Pond thrust their paddles in the air when they crossed the line to win the under-19 double ski final yesterday. The club won gold on the beach when Jackson Symonds flashed across the line to win the Australian open beach championship in Scarborough last year. But the water variety is tough to come by. “This is just the best thing,” said Cassidy,
This is just the best thing. Nine-and-a-half months of training came down to this race. Brett Cassidy especially when those waves started breaking out on that second bank. “But we are used to this kind of chop
back home and as soon as we paddled around that last turning buoy we just headed for home and what a feeling it was to cross that line.” Meanwhile Northcliffe’s Olympic kayak gold medallist Murray Stewart combined with Kiwi international Danielle McKenzie to win the mixed double ski from Alexandra Headland pair, emerging kayak star Alyssa Bull and James Porter. And in one of the most exciting races of the day, Avoca came from behind to beat Currumbin and Northcliffe in the Lifesaver Relay.
AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING GREATS JOIN FOR INAUGURAL REUNION
PLAYING BY THE BUHK EMMA HANRAHAN FEW competitors appreciate the back-ofbeach work that goes into The Aussies like Connor Buhk. You see, he’s attended every Aussies carnival since he was 4 alongside his father, official Championship referee Andrew (better known as Buhky), and became known as the beaches youngest little helper. “He took a liking to the IRB area,” Buhky said.
“I used to get charged a carton for babysitting fees from the IRB team.” These days, Connor is here on different terms. He’s one of Australia’s best young kayak prospects and is part of the national under-18 team. “I still pop in every morning and afternoon to see the IRB boys,” says Connor. Connor’s cheer squad in the IRB crew will have front row seats as they watch their little helper chase his Aussie gold dreams.
SOME of the greatest athletes in the history of surf lifesaving have assembled for the inaugural Australian team reunion. Several past athletes and officials even dusted off their national team uniforms for the event. The reunion was scheduled as part of the 100 Years of The Aussies celebrations. ABOVE: Connor Buhk competing at The Aussies 2015
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A LIFESAVER? ADRIANA BIRD MOUNT MAUNGANUI SLSC, NZ “ I love volunteering my time to help the community and ensure our beaches are safe.”
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02 The Aussies 2015
JESS IRELAND & ROXY PENA WEST BEACH SLSC, SA “I like keeping fit, hanging with my friends whilst also then keeping the public safe.”
ROB WELBORN NORTH BONDI SLSC, NSW “Spending time at the beach with my daughters and educating them about beach safety.”
EMILY GVOZDEMOVIC NORTH BONDI SLSC, NSW “Providing a community service.”
Sunday April 19, 2015
FATHER’S DAY AS THE HENDYS CREATE AUSSIES HISTORY
PLUIMERS BIDS FOR ELUSIVE TRIPLE CROWN
LEFT: Trevor and TJ Hendy create Aussies history in the Open Men’s Board Rescue final.
BELOW: Trevor Hendy elated after winning gold with his son TJ.
ABOVE: Liz Pluimers is chasing the Coolangatta Gold, Nutri-Grain Series and Aussies title in the same season.
DAVID MOASE DAVID MOASE IT took 100 years at The Aussies to produce a moment for the ages. And for all Trevor Hendy’s incredible achievements in surf lifesaving, none of them could top this. In front of thousands that lined the beach and cheered for the sentimental favourites, the Ironman legend and his son TJ found that famous Hendy spirit to surge from last to first and win the Open Men’s Board Rescue final. Historians can find only one previous father-son victory at The Aussies: Avoca’s Richard and Duke Britrey in under-19 surfboats in 2012. Trevor, 46, the winner of a record six Aussies Open Ironman Championships, said sharing this extraordinary achievement with his 20-year-old son was better than any of his personal victories. “I can’t think of an Ironman victory feeling better than that,” he said, admitting he was
crying tears of joy before the start of the race. “That’s better than winning ironman races. To do that with your son is something that’s not possible, it shouldn’t be possible.” Contesting their first Board Rescue final since they started competing together two years ago, the Hendys looked to be no hope of winning when TJ was the last swimmer to the buoys.
History often reminds us to never count out a Hendy. TJ said he didn’t even know they had won but the wild reaction of the spectators removed any doubt. “This means absolutely everything, I’m still lost for words.” TJ said. “We didn’t give up, we didn’t stop, we gave everything to the end and that’s what means the most I reckon.” “When we walked in we said to each other ‘forget about the result this is a dream come true’,” Trevor said. “It was just to do it together and I think that’s what gave us the wave. It was a Hail Mary wave – people haven’t been able to get them on the ski, let alone a rescue board.” “It was one of those moments when life came in to reward us for everything we’ve done together.” “It was nothing about being perfect, it was all about being together.”
CLUB IN FOCUS DEVONPORT SLSC, TASMANIA DEVONPORT Surf Life Saving club was formed in 1927. It is located on Tasmania’s North West Coast on Bluff Beach, or “The Bluff” as it is locally known. The winners of the State Title had a long journey north, with 2 trailers, and 12 competitors – 11 boys among them. The clubbies are soaking up the warmer temperature here in Queensland and describe themselves as a close-knit, fun and energetic club.
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DEFENDING champion Liz Pluimers may have finished second in her semi-final yesterday but is showing the form that could take her to a second Open Ironwoman title. The North Burleigh star dominated the board and swim legs of the semi-final before taking her foot off the gas in the ski and being overtaken by Rebecca Creedy (Northcliffe) on one of the best waves of the day. However you can bet Pluimers won’t be backing off in the final if she gets a similar advantage. Creedy, who won the title at North Kirra in 2012 and has placed in each of the past four finals, also looks like she will play a big role in the final. “It was unlucky for Liz that I went straight past her, but she is looking good,” Creedy said. Jordan Mercer (Noosa Heads) took out the other semi-final and looks primed to also challenge for gold in Ironwoman final. “I was so nervous about this semi-final. Reading the draws yesterday, seeing all of these names I knew that at least three Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironwomen were going to miss out on making the final in my heat,” Jordy said. Mercer was followed across the line by Karlee Nurthen (Mooloolaba) and Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe). Two big names to miss the cut in the competitive second semi-final were 2014 silver medallist Harriet Brown and Nutri-Grain series competitor Tara Coleman. The finalists for the Open Men’s Ironman will be decided when the semi-finals are raced first up today.
Before retiring from the sport in 1998 Trevor Hendy won six Australian Ironman Championships, 24 Aussies Gold Medals and was captain of the Australian Surf Team. Trevor has since made two come backs, one in 2001 when he won his 25th gold medal and another in 2012 amazingly competing in ten Open events, ten years after his second retirement from the sport.
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RIGHT : Ngaire Hadfield from Cronulla SLSC winning the U/17 Beach Flags.
FAR RIGHT : Bianca Mould from Avoca celebrating her teams win in the Lifesaver Relay.
ABOVE : The Double Skis take the stage.
RIGHT : Kurrawa SLSC’s Elizabeth Forsyth winning the U/19 Beach Flags.
RIGHT : Peter Scott from Redhead SLSC in the Single Ski.
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Sunday April 19, 2015
LEFT : Jordan Caldow photobombing his cover shot.
FAR LEFT : Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaver Matt Poole hurdling the wave. LEFT : Mooloolaba skier crashing through the wave.
ABOVE : Newport ski paddler in the clouds among the Gold Coast skyscrapers. LEFT : The Women’s Surf Race takes off.
Championship photos available at harvpix.com
sls.com.au/aussies • #Aussies100
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BEACH FLAGS HAS A NEW DANCING QUEEN LEFT: Katie Williams dances on the sand after winning her first Beach Flags Open title.
jubilant Williams said. “Last year I got second and the year before that I got third so this is amazing.” By this time next week, the nine-time Aussies champion Howard will be married to her fiancé Paul Cracroft-Wilson, who was part of an Open Men’s final postponed until today following an opening round protest in fading light.
It feels awesome to walk away with a gold. Katie Williams
PAUL COCHRANE THE bridesmaid has beaten the bride-to-be in an epic Open Women’s Beach Flags final in front of a capacity crowd at North Kirra. A year after she was relegated to the silver medal, Collaroy’s former two-time national
under-19 champion Katie Williams dethroned Australia’s greatest ever flag sprinter Melissa Howard by a fingernail. “It feels awesome to walk away with a gold. I’ve never had a gold in the Australian Opens before. I’ve taken home many golds in the juniors, but not in the Opens,” a
Just getting to the final was a significant achievement for Howard after breaking her collarbone at the world championships in France late last year. But nothing could dilute Williams’ breakthrough moment, dancing in the sand as she finally took down her fiercest rival. The under-17 and 19’s beach flag titles were shared by clubs along the east coast with Kurrawa’s Elizabeth Forsyth, Mooloolaba’s Jason Gough, Cronulla’s Ngaire Hadfield and Angelsea’s Saxon Beale all heading home with gold.
MURRAY STEWART OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, WORLD & AUSTRALIAN SKI CHAMPION & TAPLIN CHAMPION What does it mean to be competing at the 100th year of The Aussies? “It’s the pinnacle of the surf season, we’ve been doing it since we were kids and every year it comes around again. I just love the atmosphere. When you’re doing kayaking and Olympic training, it means a great deal to be able to come and compete at The Aussies and join in on the fun.” Do you have a significant memory from your long history of competing? “Probably my first Aussies medal in the double ski, under-19’s is something I will never forget, as well as winning the Open Ski, but every year, I have always walked away with having an incredible time at The Aussies.” There’s one more day left, what are you doing to recover in between days and races? “I try to make sure I rest up between races and keep eating. It has been very hot the past few days so I stay out of the sun when I can too.”
ABOVE: Alexandra Headland in action at Tugun.
CURRUMBIN KEEN TO TURN SILVERS INTO GOLD GRAHAM CALLAGHAN AFTER four silver medals in past campaigns, Lyle Clark and his Currumbin Barbarians are out to finally break through for Aussies gold when the surfboat championships conclude at Tugun today. The Barbarians will be joined in today’s final 12 by fellow Currumbin crew, the Huskals, swept by Matt Wildman. The Currumbin crews will join Bulli, Piha (NZ), South Curl Curl, Austinmer, Mona Vale, Lorne, Queenscliff, Palm Beach, Titahi (NZ) Bay, Queenscliff, Anglesea, Palm Beach NSW, Corrimal, Bilgola, Currumbin A. “A National win is definitely well overdue after collecting silver in 2003 (Michael Brown sweep), 2006, 2007 and 2011,” Clark said. “After making the semis at The Aussies last season we called it a day but got together again this season and trained on a lesser pressure programme and we have been performing pretty good.” The Barbarians have good form on the board winning the Ocean Thunder title and also gold medals at the Queensland titles at Alexandra Headland. “Matt Hickey has been sweeping the Barbarians on the Brisbane River for me and crew members-Glen Williams (stroke), Mac Hamilton, Nick Winkler and Randall Martinhave been doing a lot of private personal training,” Clark said. Clark, Williams and Martin have been with the Baabaas for a decade while Hamilton has six years and Winkler two seasons.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE AUSSIES? DEANDRA GODOY FRESHWATER SLSC, NSW
GEORGE HAYNES MOUNT MAUNGANUI SLSC, NZ
“Being able to travel with a team who becomes a second family.”
“I’m from the UK so I love being able to see all my friends together from the motherland.”
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REBECCA SCHOFIELD TERRIGAL SLSC, NSW
ALEX PETTIGREW MAROOCHYDORE SLSC, QLD “The free merch!”
“Hanging out with friends and watching everyone achieving the goals they’ve been working towards.”
Sunday April 19, 2015
BY GEORGE! O’BRIEN AND MILLER SUPREME IN THE SURF
DAVID MOASE AN emerging star of Australian swimming has announced himself at The Aussies, taking out the inaugural Aussie Ocean Swim – Open Surf Race double within the space of a week. In a race billed as the clash of the swim kings, George O’Brien emerged from the
North Kirra surf to take gold and upstage some of the sport’s biggest names. The 23-year-old from Kurrawa couldn’t believe his eyes when he got to his feet and saw the finishing tape still in place, crossing the line ahead of Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe), Tom Fraser-Holmes (Manly) and 10-times champion Ky Hurst (Kurrawa).
FAR LEFT: George O’Brien emerges from the water with gold in the Open Surf Race.
her second Women’s Surf Race title. The Newport star had won two years ago at North Kirra and tamed the choppy surf for finish ahead of Northcliffe pair Courtney Hancock and Rebecca Creedy. “I think I was pretty young and naïve when
LEFT: Georgia Miller smiles with the finish line in sight.
I’m a massive fan of Ky’s and to beat him in the surf race is just unbelievable.
“I’m a massive fan of Ky’s. He’s one of my idols considering what he’s done in pool swimming, open water and surf and to beat him in the surf race is just unbelievable,” O’Brien said. “The field was unreal, that’s why I just could not believe the tape was still up.” O’Brien’s next assignment will be in Cozumel, Mexico, for the FINA/HOSA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup as he chases an open water swimming berth at the Rio Olympic Games. Newport’s Georgia Miller was ecstatic as she crossed the line a comfortable winner of
NORTHCLIFFE FINDS RARE KRYSTAL GOLD LEFT: Krystal Smith and Maddy Dunn carry their board out of the surf in the Open Board Rescue final.
JOEL BEVILACQUA EMMA HANRAHAN NORTHCLIFFE increased its overall point score lead with gold and silver in the Women’s Open Board Rescue. The two teams had a sprint finish with
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Maddy Dunn and Krystal Smith claiming bragging rights over their clubmates Harriet Brown and Rebecca Creedy. Krystal said she was ecstatic with the win after placing fourth in her past three individual events. “It’s hard enough to get on the podium,
let alone get a gold at Aussies,’’ Krystal said. The duo praised their Northcliffe teammates. “They were hard to beat, we came home and picked up a brilliant runner, unfortunately going straight past our teammates,” she said.
George O’Brien I was 17 and didn’t know what it meant to win an Open Surf Race,” Miller said. “Coming through and racing all the open girls more has definitely put it into perspective. Oh my God, It’s huge, I can’t believe it.” Miller added another gold medal to her haul about 20 minutes later when she teamed with Lara Moses to win the board rescue ahead of Sawtell surprise packets Tahlia Kollen and Lauren Dam.
SMITH PONDERS AUSSIES SWANSONG JOEL BEVILACQUA A DECADE after winning his maiden Australian Ironman title, Nathan Smith is hoping for a fairytale finish by winning his second today. 34-year-old Smith, who is coming off his seventh NSW ironman title, is unsure whether he will get the opportunity to race competitively in an Australian Titles Ironman final again. If he is to win his second title before semiretirement, Smith says he will have to put together the perfect race. ‘’You train all year, but that moment in time, come two o’clock Sunday afternoon everything has to go right.’’ Smith said. Smith has welcomed the rough weekend conditions and says they could produce a surprise winner. ‘’You always want to race and showcase your skills in tough and challenging conditions and that’s we’ve got coming up’’ he said. ‘’It’s a lottery out there really, there is going to be upsets, there is going to be surprises.”
At the 1989 Championships at Burleigh Heads Dean Mercer won the open Ironman Championship after swimming what appeared to be way off course. However as he approached the level of the buoys the swell had moved him up to the swimming cans setting up a huge lead for him to take out first place while the other competitors were being washed to the north and struggling to get around the cans.
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#AUSSIES100 PICS OF THE DAY
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Ian Hanson @hansonmedia Amazing scenes, amazing result! Ironman legend Trevor Hendy and son TJ win board rescue gold medal at @Aussies100 Surf Life Saving NSW @slsnsw Collaroy Surf Lifesaving Club’s, Katie Williams takes out the open women’s flags! ||#nswatAussies @Aussies100 Cameron Caldwell @Cam_M_Caldwell Open men’s flags featuring Simon Harris & a thousand other Kurrawa competitors!! @Aussies100
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : @drew_beveridge, Drew Beveridge @jenayamassie, Jenaya Massie @courtneytier, Courtney Tier @jem_xoxo, Jemimah Lam
ON BEACH PRODUCTION TEAM: Paul Cochrane, Elyce Behrsin, Andrea Bryce, Claudia Ferguson, Joel Bevilacqua, Emma Hanrahan, Jacqueline Green (SLSA Media Team); Tom Parsons (SLSA Design); Ian Hanson, David Moase (Hanson Media); Harvie Allison, Kate Czerny, Shanta Allison, John Veage, Shannon Glasson (Harvpix.com)
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Sunday April 19, 2015