High hopes for beach sprint team

IT will be a family affair when a group of beach sprinters represent Ballina at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at North Kirra on the Gold Coast.

Ballina Surf Lifesaving Club sport director Todd Muller trains the team and will be joined in competition by his son Kayden.

The event will feature hundreds of competitors from around the country and will be held between March 29-April 6.

Duncan Hope is in the master’s competition with his children Rowan and Zoe also competing.

The team is rounded out Lillian Johnson who trains with the team and is also a member of Byron Bay.

“There is an array of ability at surf clubs, but if you don’t put the effort in during the year you won’t get to the Aussie titles,” Muller said.

“For our team, it’s the pinnacle and we aim to take a group every year.

“We have a smaller group this time, but they were dedicated right from the beginning of the season and we’re starting to peak at the right time.”

Rowan finished fourth in the under-19 beach sprint and sixth in the flags at the NSW state titles in Sydney.

Zoe got silver in the under-17 mixed relay and a bronze in the open girl’s relay running with the Wollongong City Club.

She won gold at the Aussies with its under-15 team last year.

Muller said competitors from Ballina, including himself, link up with other clubs for team events.

He has medaled the last three years at the Aussies representing the Mollymook Club from where he grew up on the Central Coast.

“Rowan will represent Ballina in his individual events and he’d like to do well after his performance at state,” Muller said.

“Making a final would be a great result for him.

“His dad has been around the club for years and he’s having a crack at masters for the first time, so I look forward to seeing how he goes.

“For Kayden, this will be his last time in youth competition after going for three years in a row, he’s done well.”

The Far North Coast branch will be represented by competitors, officials and volunteers from Fingal Head to Yamba.