RIPtIDE NOW FOR PART TWO OF BRANCH CHAMPIONSHIPS STARS ARE BACK AT COLLAROY It s the second part of the Sydney Northern Beaches Branch Championships this weekend with the action at two different venues. The open water, boats and R and R will be held at Collaroy on Saturday, while all beach events for juniors, masters and opens are at North Narrabeen on Sunday. Our top water athletes are sure to be at Collaroy and use the Branch Championships as a valuable hit out before the finale of Ocean6 at North Cronulla on February 24-25. Manly pair Naomi Scott and Jay Furniss will certainly be full of confidence for the Branch Championships after both had podium finishes in the fifth round of the Nutri Grain series, held in very testing conditions at Surfers Paradise last Sunday. Scott finished third behind Courtney Hancock and Brielle Cooper. Newport s Georgia Miller came fourth. It should be an interesting battle between Naomi and Georgia at Collaroy where the surf is predicted to be small. Furniss had his best performance in the Nutri Grain this season, finishing third behind Matt Bevilacqua and James Lacy. It was a rare occasion not to see Ali Day in the top six, while the great Shannon Eckstein didn t make the top 10. The best of our Sydney Northern Beaches junior water competitors were on show at Collaroy last Sunday and one of the big upsets came in the under 14 girls board rescue. Mona Vale pair Kira Beuzeville and Charli Munro beat the more fancied combinations from Manly and Newport. It was certainly a very popular victory and the first time the girls had won the Branch title in this event. We were third last year, Charli said. The girls showed plenty of determination. We were coming about fifth when we got on our board and we just paddled really hard, Charli said. It feels really good to beat Manly and Newport. It was special. The girls decided to pair up in the board rescue because they are best friends. It made sense to be together, Charli said. They collected a silver medal in the board relay with Jayme Saggers and Mia Paltridge. We went OK in All-Age Board Relay. It wasn t our best race, said Charli. Manly took out the All-Age Board Relay and Newport qualified for the State Championships when they just pipped North Curl Curl. The Morris twins, Mitch and Jake, went toe to toe in their under 13 events, although clubmate Bailey Clues split them in the surf race. Pictures: Top: Kira Beuzeville (front) and Charli Munro nearing the finish of the under 14 girls board rescue. Below: Mitch (front) and Jake Morris winning the under 13 board rescue (Photo: KEMBLE COWAN):
MARVIN WANTED TO BE A VOLUNTEER LIFESAVER NOW HE WINS HIS FIRST GOLD MEDAL His real name is Marvin Permacio Delos Santos.He was born in the Philippines and adopted by an Australian family when he was five. Now he s Marvin Smith. And he s just won his first gold medal in surf life saving s first aid competition at the Sydney Northern Beaches Branch Championships. Marvin, who joined Newport SLSC, three seasons ago, partnered Chloe Van Dam, to take out the under 19 event at Collaroy last Sunday. Marvin (pictured top left) and Chloe had only been training for the event for the past three months. We just thought it would be something different to do because our club does these kind of things and we have loved it ever since, Marvin said. Marvin said he originally joined the surf club because he wanted to be a volunteer. I got my Bronze, ARTC, Silver Medallion IRB Drivers and all that. And now I am about to get my First Aid Certificate as well, Marvin said. I was really interested in IRB s initially but I really like doing this (first aid). Marvin is ever so grateful that Anne and Alan Smith adopted him. My mum had to give me away when I was young because she couldn t look after me. My father had disappeared, Marvin said. I am lucky to have such wonderful parents now and I took on their name (Smith). But, as a respect to my mother, I kept my first name as memories of the past. Chloe has had a long involvement with Newport. I joined as a nipper in under 6s, she said. I went all the way through nippers. I did the SRC, Bronze Medallion, my ARTC, my crew course and I am currently doing my drivers. I am about to finish the course. I started IRB racing this year as well. I thought I d do first aid for a bit of fun. It was another interest and I enjoy it. We really didn t expect to win at our first attempt. It was exciting as we ve only been together a short time, Chloe said. Newport pair Linda Leck and Lily Tancred were also gold medal winners in the under 17s. As expected, Freshwater s Aussie champs Kelly Dobrow and Cheryl White were too strong in the opens. Picture: Newport champions; Marvin Smith (left) with Chloe Van Dam. Ben Matthews (right) and Below: Lily Tancred and Linda Leck. RESULTS OPEN: Kelly Dobrow-Cheryl White (Freshwater White), 432 (1); Sita Mason- Ruby Costello (Manly A), 386 (2); Julia Baker-Tahlia Dearden (Freshwater A), 337 (3); Emily Cuckle-Allen Lakeman (Dee Why A), 287.50 (4); Phoebe Savage-Ben Matthews (Newport Benbee), 227.50 (5). UNDER 19: Chloe Van Dam-Marvin Smith (Newport Cloven), 303.50 (1); Christopher Curulli- James Wacher (Manly A) 255 (2); Lauren Costello-Elizabeth Gobee (Manly B) 251 (3) UNDER 17: Linda Leck-Lily Tancred (Newport Lindly) 298 (1); Jessica Shaw-Mackenzie Walker (Manly A) 200 (2); Jack Hurrell-Joseph Bruwel (Freshwater A) 197 (3); Hamish Thorpe-Monique Curulli (Manly B) 149 (4)
WARRINGAH MALL Jordi Tocquer didn t think he d eaten enough oats for breakfast on Sunday morning. When he arrived at Collaroy to compete at the Westfield Junior Branch water championships, he was still feeling a bit hungry. But there was no time for more food as he had a number of events on his program. Jordi combined with his Mona Vale teammates Zach Wasley and Harrison Dene to take out bronze in the under 11 board relay. But Jordi forgot about the hunger pains and lifted to another level. He then combined with Zach to take out the board rescue and put in a mighty effort to win the individual board. I had a bad start and I suppose I was about 12 th going around the cans, Jordi said. All I could think of was just paddle hard and give it a go. In the end Jordi overpowered the strong Manly boys. As soon as the carnival was over, Jordi was off to dig into a big bowl of ice cream. Pictures: Jordi Tocquer (left) with his medals and Jordi with Zach Wasley and Harrison Dene; Below left: Liam Jordan and Luka Gordon show off their medals. Luka was also a member of Manly s winning All-Age Board Relay. Bottom right: Under 9 girls wait for the start of their swim.
Competitors at the Westfield Junior Branch Championships.
PHOTOS Kemble Cowan
MONA VALE TRIO HOT IN MASTERS WATER EVENTS These three Mona Vale beauties certainly had a good hit out at the Branch Masters Championships. Not only did Sophie Stokes, Paula Tocquer and Kris Monnock win the ski relay but they then backed up to take out the Taplin relay in their age group at Collaroy Beach last Saturday. It was a come from behind victory in the Taplin relay. It was some pretty tough conditions with the shore break today, Paula said after the race. Kris did the swim leg, I did the ski and Sophie brought it home with a wonderful board paddle to catch the leaders. It always feels good when you catch Manly and it was on the line. It s always Manly we are fighting at Branch and it s Bondi at State. What s really exciting, is we have two female relay teams this year, Kris said. It is really good to have depth in our masters team. Sophie, Paula and Kris are not only going to State but also to Aussies in Perth in April. That will be really exciting, Kris said. We have four going at the moment, with Bryce (Munro) also coming. We are also taking nine youth and five or six open competitors, which is really exciting for Mona Vale. MATT CATCHES ON QUICKLY ON SKI Matt Heaton was a boatie for some 25 years. Now he s paddling a ski. I started doing this (ski paddling) a few years ago and wish I had done it a lot earlier, Matt, a member of North Curl Curl SLSC, said. Matt partnered Glenn Slater in the double ski at the Branch Masters Championships at Collaroy last Saturday and they powered home to victory in their age group. You get more medals doing this than you do rowing boats, Matt said. Matt said he started out rowing boats for North Curly and also rowed for Freshwater and Manly over the years. Just follow your boat sweep around you do. Your coach, he said. But I finished back at North Curly We won two State titles in the reserves. It was only the second time Matt had paddled the double ski with Glenn. He does all the work. I just stay in time. He s good. Matt said. Picture: On fire Mona Vale trio Sophie Stokes (left), Paula Tocquer and Kris Monnock. Picture: Glenn Slater (front) and Matt Heaton on their way to victory.
ASHLEY DELIVERS IN COMEBACK It hasn t taken Avalon Beach competitor Ashley Brown long to get back into the swing of things in the surf. Ashley took a break from being a club member for almost 30 years after being an original nipper at Avalon. But he has returned to the area and competition now that his two kids Charlie and Macy are involved in nippers with the club. Ashley said he worked hard on his condition for the Branch Masters at Collaroy last Saturday. It definitely showed when he won the ironman in his age group. Pretty happy with that, he said. We won the swim teams and I was also in the board rescue and we got second in that. Now that he has a real taste of it again, Ashley will be off to the State Masters at Blacksmiths Beach early next month. I am also going to the Aussies. I am having some fun and keeping fit, he said. Warriewood SLSC President Jen Spencer is no mean swimmer. She won her surf race at the Branch Masters. I got a bit lucky with that wave, she said modestly. Freshwater s Sigi Hill showed his strength to win his surf race. Pictures: Top left: Jen Spencer; Top right: Sigi Hill; Bottom right: Ashley Brown (Avalon Beach) warming up.
ROSS GIVES IT BEST SHOT Ross Birch is one of those masters competitors who likes to have a go at everything. The North Steyne SLSC member said: I do the ski, board, run and swim. I am not the strongest swimmer but I like to give it a go. Ross found the hardest part of his surf race at the Branch Masters Championships was swimming across the cans at Collaroy last Saturday. It seemed to go forever. You had the breeze pushing against it. That was the harder part of the whole swim. It s not my strongest part but I still got a medal in my age group, he laughed. Freshwater s Michael Kirkby showed his determination to come from behind and beat Adriaan van der Wallen (Palm Beach) in his board race. There s nothing like a win, Michael said. Pictures: Top left Ross Birch; Top right: Adriaan van der Wallen leads but is about to be overtaken by Michael Kirkby; Centre right: Manly s Peter Ingle. Below right Palm Beach pair Adriaan van Wallen and Saul Brown Club President.
COLLAROY ARE NO LONGER JINXED This time the Collaroy boys held their nerve. Forget the above photo when sweep Phil Massingham had a fall. That was in one of the preliminary Ocean Thunder races at Dee Why last Saturday. According to stroke Will Hosking, the sweep called a sensational final race when Collaroy kept Batemans Bay at bay and relegated them to third place. Batemans Bay went into the last round one point ahead of Collaroy. By winning the double race final and the Avoca crew being second, it meant Collaroy finally cracked the Thunder series for the first time since its inception in 2005. There had been a number of spills throughout the day and the last thing Collaroy wanted was a repeat of last year when they appeared to have the final shot to pieces and then overturned. We definitely had some butterflies on the day knowing we d been there last year and what had happened, Hosking said. But we didn t get flustered even when Batemans Bay were right beside us at the change. I just thought we rowed a very mature race and Phil was brilliant. It was the first time in six years a Sydney Northern Beaches crew had won the series, Bilgola being the last. The Collaroy boys celebrated at the Beach Club Collaroy on Saturday night. It was fitting we were there. They have been great sponsors, Hosking said. Hosking and the three other rowers Sam Newsom, Alex Nicolson and Angus Campbell were all on patrol for Collaroy SLSC the next day. Pictures: Top left Collaroy cheer girls; Top right: Where s sweep Phil Massingham going? (Photo: Paul Lemlin) Middle: The boys on their way home to victory in the final; Bottom: Will Hosking and Sam Newsom on IRB duty the next day.
WARRIEWOOD GIRLS GET REAL THUNDER BUZZ North Narrabeen weren t excited, nor was Palm Beach Patriots but the Warriewood girls ended the Ocean Thunder women s series on a happy note. The Patriots, who had won the three previous rounds, had won all six races at Dee Why last Saturday before disaster struck in their semi- final. They only had to finish third to secure a place in the final for the fourth time this season. But they rolled. Warriewood were in the same semi-final as the Patriots and finally had some luck. One of our girls saw what had happened to Palmy and we knew we only had to make it back safely to qualify for the final, said second bow Nicki Daley. In the flat we would never get close to the Palmy girls but anything can happen when there s a wave on. We love the surf. It was the first time we had made the final this season. We love this type of racing. It s a high standard. Nicki, Peta Fairlie, Lisa Schumacher, Alex Salier and sweep Matt Sheridan will be at the SNB Branch Championships on Saturday where they ll be racing the Patriots and North Narrabeen again. And there s the younger Palmy crew swept by Stephen Cox. They also made the Ocean Thunder final last Saturday. Regardless of what happens at the Branch Championships, the Warriewood girls will be rowing at the State Championships at Blacksmiths next month. That s our focus, Nicki said. There are always tales about the fish that got away. Well, it was certainly the one that got away for the North Narrabeen crew in the final. Some North Narrabeen supporters were left in tears on the beach when sweep Don McManus couldn t hold a wave and the boat overturned and out went the girls. North Narrabeen appeared to have the double race final shot to pieces before the mishap. Currumbin ended up winning the final from Tallebudgera and Torquay. The Palm Beach Patriots had enough points (28) to win the series for the second time running. Currumbin (26) were second and Collaroy Beach Club third. They finished on 22 points. Pictures: Top: All was going smoothly for North Narrabeen in the first leg of the final; Middle: Happy days for the Warriewood girls. The younger Palm Beach crew being introduced before the final.