TWO GOOD

TWO surf boat crews from Torquay SLSC have triumphed at Shellharbour, helping Australia defeat New Zealand for the fourth successive year and beating the best teams from across the country at the weekend.

The “Torquay Lightning” women’s crew won all three of their races against the NZ rep side in the Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Test Match, while the “Torquay on the third day of the Team Navy ASRL Australian Open.

Torquay Lightning – Jess Kelleher, Sophie Robson, Sonia Heath, Sylvie GOOD Withers and swept by Scott Tannahill – was one of only two Australian crews chosen to represent their nation in the Test Match.

Ms Robson said it was important to get off to a good start with a win in the “Obviously, we’re really happy with the result. It felt really good going on the way out, and on the way back in I think we had some things to work on, but I was stoked to catch a wave in… always nice to be able to row halfway and catch a wave, so yeah, it went well.”

Torquay Lightning’s success – the crew also came fourth in the Open Female category at the Australian Open – is especially notable as the selection event at Elouera late last year rowed together.

Ms Heath said Lightning was mostly a stillwater crew but “we like to think we handle whatever nature throws our way”.

stroke and row whatever you can; and if you’re getting hit by something, get the boat over as quick as possible and extend any lead that you’ve got.”

Torquay Thunder – Nick Phelps, James Marburg, Michael Love, Josh Nalder, and also swept by Scott Cottesloe Boatmen, Bulli Gold and the Currumbin Coal Trains.

The future is also bright for younger surf boat rowers at Torquay SLSC, as the “Torquay Pirates” Under 19 Male crew