Success at State surfing championships

Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club has returned from the NSW State Surf Championships with an "abundance of medals" and several club members who have qualified for the national titles, according to competitions officer Ms Robyn Carr.

The team, consisting of 47 members, competed in all disciplines of the life saving events from the Patrol Competition through to the Surf Boat Races and Board Riding events.

The club won six events, placed second in three events and third in three events over the Open and Masters Competitions.

"This allowed members to come home with eight gold medals, 13 silver medals and 14 bronze medals," Ms Carr said.

"Ocean Beach finished 13th in the overall point score and was second of the Central Coast clubs.

"Competition started two weeks ago where all life saving events were contested the same weekend as the junior titles.

"Ocean Beach members competed in nine of these events and came away with a swag of medals.

"On the first day, the open team showed their perseverance and were rewarded their first medal with a third placing.

"On the second day of competition, the club showed its dominance in First Aid by securing gold in the Under 15 and Under 19 divisions and placing second in the Open, Under 17 as well as the Under 19 divisions.

"The final day saw the champion life saver events held.

"Again, Ocean Beach was well represented with two gold medals and a bronze coming to the club in the Under-15 male and female and Open female divisions.

Ms Carr said competitors must qualify through their respective state titles to contest the Australian titles.

"Ocean Beach members to be representing NSW at the Australian titles are Brooke Carr, Rebecca Cooper, Matt Hurst, Bryce Sainty, Conor Grimmond, Jessica Moyes, Lauren Swain, Ashleigh Swain, Jessica Allan, Shelley Smith, Katie Dixon, Richard Grimmond, Nigel Fitzgibbon, Mark Davis and Aaron Camp," Ms Carr said.

"The numerous medals won by the life saving competitors allowed Ocean Beach to lead the open point score heading into the second week of competition.

"The second week of competition saw much calmer conditions than what the juniors experienced the week before.

"Ocean Beach was represented in the boat area with four crews, the Rusties and Vipers in the Male Under-23 and the Flames and Fenbots in the Female Under-23.

"Both the male crews made it through to finals day with the Rusties making the final and finishing in sixth position.

"The long hard rows of each heat and final gave the crews preparation for the Australian titles in Western Australia where they will experience similar conditions.

"The Masters competitors held their events the Thursday before the Opens and with only a handful of competitors helped add to the medal tally.

"Allison Tucker in the 30-34 division added another two medals to her state medal from last year by winning a silver medal in the Sprint and Flags events.

"Not to be out done, husband Jason picked up a bronze medal in the 35-39 Beach Relay with team mates Darren Shaw, Shane Oakes and James White.

"The Under-15 competitors again showed their strength with many finals being contested by both the males and females.

"Four Under-14 females stepped up a division to compete and were rewarded for their efforts.

"Rebecca Cooper, partnering Brooke Carr, won gold in the first aid, while Elyssia Gasparotto, competing in only one event, came away with another gold medal winning the 2km beach run.

"Laura McGlone contested four individual finals."

The male Under 15 team consisting of Keelan Bridge, Gregory Bennett, Matt Hurst and Ryan Moate showed their combined strength by winning a silver medal in the surf teams and a bronze in the Cameron relay.

"Matt Hurst stepped up this year and was a deserving silver medallist in the Iron Man event," Ms Carr said.

"Keelan Bridge finished off a successful day by taking out his first ever individual medal and gold at that in the Surf Race.

"The boys showed their dominance in the surf with all three Keelan, Matt and Gregory Bennett making the eight person Tube Final and Surf Race Final.

"Matt also made the final of the board race and Keelan the final of the Iron Man.

"In the under 19 area, Jessica Moyes was a finalist in the surf race.

"The club will have 23 club members contesting the titles in Western Australia commencing March 17."

Medal winners were:

Under-15: Gold Medal First Aid - Brooke Carr / Rebecca Cooper; Gold Medal Male Champion Life Saver - Matt Hurst; Gold Medal Male Surf - Keelan Bridge; Gold Medal Female 2km Run - Elyssia Gasparotto; Silver Medal Iron Man - Matt Hurst; Silver Medal Male Surf Teams - Matt Hurst, Keelan Bridge, Gregory Bennett, Ryan Moate; Bronze Medal Male Cameron - Matt Hurst, Keelan Bridge, Gregory Bennett, Ryan Moate.

Under-17: Silver Medal First Aid - Bryce Sainty / Conor Grimmond.

Under-19: Gold Medal Female Champion Life Saver - Jessica Moyes; Gold Medal First Aid - Lauren Swain / Jessica Moyes; Silver Medal First Aid - Ashleigh Swain / Jessica Allan.

Opens: Silver Medal First Aid - Katie Dixon / Richard Grimmond; Bronze Medal Patrol Competition - Katie Dixon, Richard Grimmond, Nigel Fitzgibbon, Shelley Smith,

Aaron Camp, Mark Davis; Bronze Medal Female Champion Life Saver - Shelley Smith.

Masters: Silver Medal 30-34 Female Sprint - Allison Tucker; Silver Medal 30-34 Female Flags - Allison Tucker; Bronze Medal 35-39 Male Beach Relay - Jason Tucker, James White, Darren Shaw, Shane Oakes.

Press release, 9 Mar 2009 Robyn Carr, Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club