Lifesavers take places in State champs

Surf sports athletes from Umina Surf Life Saving Club and Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club competed in the 2012 NSW Endurance Championships, held at Swansea Belmont on Sunday, October 28.

For many, the Endurance Championships was the first event of the season and provided athletes from all over NSW with a personal challenge as well as an opportunity to test their fitness in their chosen discipline against the leading competitors in NSW from Under-15s to over 50s.

This year the Championships attracted almost 300 participants with eight competitors from Umina and one from Ocean Beach placing in the event.

Competing in the 30-39 age group, Mick Magurren placed first in the male 6km ski event, first in the Ironman event, second in the 5km male board event and third in the 2km male ocean swim while fellow Umina competitor Christine Bishop placed second in the female 30-39 6km ski event and third in the female 4km board event.

Gary Matthews placed second in the 40-49 6km male ski event, second in the 40-49 5km male beach run, second in the 40-49 4km male board event and second in the 40-49 Ironman.

Kerry Armstrong-Smith placed second in the 40-40 female 6km ski event while Alison Tucker placed first in the 30-39 female 5km beach run.

Jemma Smith placed first in the Under-15 female 5km beach run and fifth in the Under-15 4km female board event.

Rick Boylan placed fifth in the 40-49 Ironman and sixth in the 4km male board event and Rachel Wood placed fifth in the Under-16 female Ironperson event.

Ocean Beach competitor Jason Tucker placed third in the 40-49 5km beach run event.

"The tough conditions on the weekend were very challenging, forcing a couple of changes to the proposed event courses," said Surf Life Saving NSW surf sports manager Mr Dan Pearce.

"Despite this, the event was very successful with strong entries from across the State and some close finishes even after the longer distances."

Media release, 29 Oct 2012

Alix Vanny, Surf Life Saving NSW