More Hardware Handed Out at Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

Riley-Fitzsimmons

NORTH KIRRA BEACH – A star was born at North Kirra yesterday afternoon when 18-year-old Riley Fitzsimmons from Avoca Beach paddled his way into Aussies folklore.

The kid from the NSW Central Coast came from the clouds to steal the coveted open single ski relay – one of the most coveted events on the Australian Championships program.

And the boys from Avoca, in the hunt all day, came from behind to defeat defending champions Newport and six-time champions Northcliffe in a dramatic finish.

“This is the one race we’ve been after, the one race we’ve been chasing for years; we’ve been second and third twice but we’ve never won the gold,” said 38-year-old second paddler Gordon Jones.

“We’ve been chasing a kid who can paddle and run and we’ve found one in Riley…I can now retire a happy man.”

But that’s only one part of a day in the life of this Riley.

Only minutes before his gold medal paddle he had helped Avoca to a gold medal win in the under 19 board relay with team mates Brad McCloghry and Jordan Moore over Newport B and Newport A.

But wait there’s more….while his open team and club mates were madly celebrating, Riley was hustled back to the under 19 ski relay final where he again produced a paddle of the ages to come from behind on the final leg to win Avoca the silver medal, again with McCloghry and Moore.

Two gold and a silver in 30 minutes of fury. A day in the life Riley will never forget.

“It’s so exciting to get the opportunity to paddle with guys like Lachy and Gordo every day, I’m blessed and this is a like a dream, I can’t believe it, I never gave up and knew I had the legs to get there,” said Fitzsimmons who will be back on the beach today chasing more success in the under 19 single ski and board races.

Lachlan-Tame-Gordon-Jones-Riley-Fitzsimmons

Photo Courtesy: Hanson Media Group

 

Meanwhile the open men’s board relay saw another “never say die” performance from defending champions Mooloolaba who won their third title in a row when they came from behind to beat Tugun and Redhead.

Luke Cuff paddled the opener for Mooloolaba which saw Sam Hamilton (Tugun) open up a commanding lead but Ali Day and then Hayden White paddled perfect races to take the title again.

Cuff and White were in the victorious Mooloolaba tea, from last year and for Day it was his first ever Aussies team gold.

Power paddles give Northcliffe girls ski relay gold

Power paddles by Danielle McKenzie and ironwoman Rebecca Creedy pushed Northcliffe to gold in the Open Women’s Ski Relay.

First paddler Devon Halligan did well to stay within touching distance of kayak stars Alyce Burnett (Maroochydore), Naomi Flood (Manly) and Alyssa Bull (Alexandra Headland), handing over to McKenzie in fourth place.

McKenzie had only minutes earlier produced an astonishing paddle in the board relay final and reproduced that effort to push Northcliffe into second place, 15 metres behind Maroochydore.

Creedy, who looks in tip-top shape to challenge for the ironwoman title later in the carnival, then hunted down Maroochydore’s Caitlin Gilliman and passed her on the paddle back to the beach.

The win gave Halligan and McKenzie their first open gold medals for Northcliffe, earning them coveted numbered club caps, and for Halligan it was her third Open Ski Relay win, having won gold with Manly in the past two years.

Gilliman hung on to give Maroochydore second place, with Manly in third. Meanwhile, Brodie Moir showed plenty of patience and determination to guarantee her North Burleigh team the gold medal in the Open Women’s Board Relay.

Moir went into the final leg of the race in third place but showed her ironwoman pedigree to come home over the top of Mooloolaba’s Karlee Nurthen and Noosa Heads’ Lana Rogers.

The win gave Moir and teammates Liz Pluimers and Tara Coleman their second consecutive Aussies gold in the event.

Tara-Coleman-Liz-Pluimers-Brodie-Moir

Photo Courtesy: Hanson Media Group

 

Flat lake training proves winner for Mooloolaba girls

 

An unusual training spike in the lead-up to the Aussies proved a masterstroke for the gold medal winning Mooloolaba under-19 Board Relay crew. The team of Georgina McDermott, Kirriena Raymond, Karlee Nurthen was able to take advantage of the calmer conditions delivered by North Kirra.

“The paddle in reminded me of training on the flat lake back home which was always so hard,” Kirriena said.

They were forced to come from behind to overhaul the Newport crew after Georgia Miller established a sizeable lead on the first-leg.

A determined final leg proved decisive as McDermott seized the lead to steer Mooloolaba to victory.

“I was hurting, I couldn’t see anyone next to me or in front me so I just ran for Gold,” says McDermott. The battle for second was intense with Northcliffe edging out Newport in a sprint to the finish.

Saints boaties go marching in… but only just

St. Kilda’s Matthew Culka was one pretty happy boat sweep when his crew survived the closest decision of the day to be crowned the 200 years Masters’ surfboat champions at Tugun today.

Five boats finished on the same wave to send tower judges into a huddle at both ends of the beach and after 15 minutes of discussion it was announced St Kilda were the gold medal winners. Bronte were only centimetres behind with silver while WA crew North Cottesloe took home the bronze.

It completed a winning treble for St Kilda after also taking out the World title in France last year and the Ausssies Reserve grade championship at Scarborough Beach last season.

“If you are good enough to make every final and get a fair rub of the green, consistency will see you win a few medals,” Culka said.

Trevor ‘Trax’ Robson swept North Cronulla to victory in the 180 years final beating Austinmer and Tallebudgera in another tight finish.

While sweep Mark McDonald pulled his Elouera crew onto a one-metre wave to comfortably win the 160 years final from Jan Juc and Bronte.

Lorne’s win in the men’s 120 years final on Tuesday was certainly a triumph for the McCombe family. Alistar McCombe swept Lorne to win gold medals with his sons Jarod in the stroke seat and another son Brent second stroke.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

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