Lifesavers showcase skills at The Aussies

HUNDREDS of Bellarine and Surf Coast lifesavers are travelling home from a successful Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth with their heads held high, competing in close to 40 event finals.

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) aquatic sport director Aaron Green congratulated the Geelong-Surf Coast athletes on their enormous efforts at the Australian Championships, informally known as “The Aussies”.

“For our Geelong-Surf Coast athletes to be mixing it with the very best in Australia is testament to their talent and dedication to their sport,” he said.

Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club’s (SLSC’s) Campbell Asher was the only local to collect gold at the national championships, placing first in the Under 17 shortboard surfing event.

Patrick Kenny, Julia Phillips, Cooper Stanley and Kate Walker of Anglesea SLSC acquired bronze in the open mixed beach relay, while Kenny doubled up with a third in the under 17 men’s individual beach sprint.

Anglesea SLSC Under 14 competitor Jasmine Hume secured a fifth place in the 2km beach run, qualified for the ironwoman final, then paired up with teammate Ellie Morgan to claim sixth in the Under 14/15 girls 2x1km beach relay.

“The quality of competition is incredibly high, making an Australian final is a phenomenal achievement in itself, so for Geelong-Surf Coast lifesavers to bring home three medals and make 37 finals at both the junior and senior level is reflective of their hard work and training,” Mr Green added.

“Bring on Aussies 2024!”

In the junior events, Anglesea competitor Summer Morgan reached new heights at her first championships, finishing seventh in the 2km ocean swim, qualifying for the surf race and competing in the ironwoman finals.

Jan Juc SLSC’s youth girls had an impressive showing on the national stage, with Zoe McKenna, Chloe Reyntjes and Chloe Walsh making the Under 14/15 girls board relay final.

In the youth boys’ field, Torquay SLSC’s Jack Patel and Taj Purcell placed eighth in the Under 13/14 boys beach relay.

Lorne SLSC’s William Newton (Under 15 boys surf race), and teammate Billy Read (Under 13 boys surf race) both placed in the top 10 of their respective finals.

Lorne’s strength in the surf boat events continued.

Lorne Edge, which comprised of Peta Glaister, Chantal Guziak, Geoffrey Matthews, Georgia Stewart and Madeline Thomas, finished fifth in the final.

Lorne Prawns, the club’s reserve team featuring Linley Bertacchini, Shea Grant, Emma

Lazzaro, Geoffrey Matthews and Paula Matthews also placed fifth.

For full results from the 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, head to sls.com.au/aussies-hub