Young guns race boats

Umina Surf Life Saving Club hosted the Bruce Thoroughgood Young Guns boat race on Sunday, January 9, at Umina Beach in memory of head sweep and coach Bruce Thoroughgood.

The surf boat carnival was held at Umina for the third year in a row and was open to under-19 male, under-23 male and female boat crews with an open invitation to any crews around Australia to encourage and develop young surf boat rowers.

This year's event saw 32 crews of 160 members attend along with officials and spectators traveling from the North Coast, Hunter, Sydney Northern beaches and Sydney's south.

"The event is growing each year and the junior rowers really enjoy the racing environment and the chance to mix with members of so many different clubs," said carnival organiser Mr Paul Quick.

"The standard of racing is very high and you can guarantee you will see some of these crews in the finals come State and Australian championships time," he said.

"With the aid of Surf Lifesaving Central Coast and sponsorship, the young members can compete and be rewarded for their efforts with many prizes provided by the sponsor on the day.

"This is about not only developing surf boat rowers but also young lifesavers, who patrol our beaches each weekend in their voluntary roles and look out for the community," he said.

The carnival is held every year to commemorate the life of Bruce Thoroughgood after he died suddenly in his home on April 9, 2008, at the age of 55.

Mr Thoroughgood had only the day before returned from Perth where he competed in the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships and was working on a Terrigal surf boat at the time of his passing.

He started as a rower and then sweep at Umina for a number of years before taking up the role of head sweep and coach at Terrigal.

He won a number of medals at Branch, State and Australian Championships and was keen to encourage and develop young members into the sport of surfboat rowing.

In conference with Terrigal, Umina offered to hold the event each year at their beach in tribute to their passed member.

The event is attended each year by Bruce's two sons, Brent and Scott, who have rowed surf boats themselves and are also members of surf life saving clubs.

Media release, 19 Jan 2011 Paul Quick, Terrigal SLSC