Aussies2015 On Beach Newspaper issue 6

SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2015 • #AUSSIES100 • SLS.COM.AU/AUSSIES

HENDYS SAVOUR THE ULTIMATE FAMILY MOMENT AT THE AUSSIES

IAN HANSON

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,

“nine-and-a-half months of training came

down to this race and it was tough going,

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.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A LIFESAVER?

PROGRESSIVE POINTSCORE

“ I love volunteering my

time to help the community and ensure our

beaches are safe.”

“I like keeping fit, hanging with my friends

whilst also then keeping the public safe.”

“Providing a community service.”

“Spending time at the

beach with my daughters

and educating them about beach safety.”

ADRIANA BIRDMOUNT MAUNGANUI SLSC, NZ

JESS IRELAND & ROXY PENAWEST BEACH SLSC, SA

EMILY GVOZDEMOVICNORTH BONDI SLSC, NSW

ROB WELBORNNORTH BONDI SLSC, NSW

ABOVE: Connor Buhk competing at The Aussies 2015

EMMA HANRAHAN

FEW competitors appreciate the back-of-

beach 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.

PLAYING BY THE BUHK

AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING GREATS JOIN FOR INAUGURAL REUNIONSOME 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.

Northcliffe 253; Currumbin 116; Newport 108; Mooloolaba 98; Manly 88; Kurrawa 85; Alexandra Headland 70; Maroochydore 55; City of Perth 53; Collaroy 44.

LEFT: Brett Cassidy and Nick Pond claim gold in the Double Ski final.

This is just the best thing. Nine-and-a-half months of training came down to this race. Brett Cassidy

TOP OF THE PADDLE POPS

02 | The Aussies 2015 Sunday April 19, 2015

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.

DID YOUKNOW

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.

CLUB IN FOCUSDEVONPORT SLSC, TASMANIA

ABOVE: Liz Pluimers is chasing the Coolangatta Gold, Nutri-Grain Series and Aussies title in the same season.

DAVID MOASE

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.

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.”

FATHER’S DAY AS THE HENDYS CREATE AUSSIES HISTORY

PLUIMERS BIDS FOR ELUSIVE TRIPLE CROWN

BELOW: Trevor Hendy elated after winning gold with his son TJ.

LEFT: Trevor and TJ Hendy create Aussies history in the Open Men’s Board Rescue final.

sls.com.au/aussies • #Aussies100 The Aussies 2015 | 03

RIGHT : Ngaire Hadfield from Cronulla SLSC winning the U/17 Beach Flags.

RIGHT : Kurrawa SLSC’s Elizabeth Forsyth winning the U/19 Beach Flags.

ABOVE : The Double Skis take the stage.

FAR RIGHT : Bianca Mould from Avoca celebrating her teams win in the Lifesaver Relay.

RIGHT : Peter Scott from Redhead SLSC in the Single Ski.


LEFT : Jordan Caldow photo-bombing his cover shot.

LEFT : Mooloolaba skier crashing through the wave.

FAR LEFT : Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaver Matt Poole hurdling 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


WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE AUSSIES?

“Being able to travel with

a team who becomes a

second family.”

“Hanging out with

friends and watching everyone achieving the

goals they’ve been working towards.”

“The free merch!” “I’m from the UK so I love

being able to see all my

friends together from the motherland.”

DEANDRA GODOYFRESHWATER SLSC, NSW

REBECCA SCHOFIELDTERRIGAL SLSC, NSW

ALEX PETTIGREWMAROOCHYDORE SLSC, QLD

GEORGE HAYNESMOUNT MAUNGANUI SLSC, NZ

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.”

MURRAY STEWARTOLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST, WORLD & AUSTRALIAN SKI CHAMPION & TAPLIN CHAMPION

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

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.

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.

BEACH FLAGS HAS A NEW DANCING QUEEN

It feels awesome to walk away with a gold. Katie Williams

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 Martin-

have 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.

CURRUMBIN KEEN TO TURN SILVERS INTO GOLD

ABOVE: Alexandra Headland in action at Tugun.

LEFT: Katie Williams dances on the sand after winning her first Beach Flags Open title.


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.

DID YOUKNOW

I’m a massive fan of Ky’s and to beat him in the surf race is just unbelievable. George O’Brien

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).

“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

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

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.

BY GEORGE! O’BRIEN AND MILLER SUPREME IN THE SURFFAR LEFT: George O’Brien emerges from the water with gold in the Open Surf Race.

LEFT: Krystal Smith and Maddy Dunn carry their board out of the surf in the Open Board Rescue final.

LEFT: Georgia Miller smiles with the finish line in sight.

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

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.

NORTHCLIFFE FINDS RARE KRYSTAL GOLD

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 semi-

retirement, 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.”

SMITH PONDERS AUSSIES SWANSONG


JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIan 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

SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR VALUED PARTNERS

MAJOR EVENT PARTNER

EVENT PARTNERS

MAJOR NATIONAL PARTNERS

FACEBOOK.COM/LIFESAVING @SLSAUSTRALIA @SLSAUSTRALIAYOUTUBE.COM/USER/SLSAUSTRALIA

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : @drew_beveridge, Drew Beveridge@jenayamassie, Jenaya Massie@courtneytier, Courtney Tier@jem_xoxo, Jemimah Lam

#AUSSIES100 PICS OF THE DAY

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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Aussies2015 On Beach Newspaper issue 6