BOTH Torquay\u2019s and Lorne\u2019s lifesaving clubs have taken home gold after scoring big at the Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide this week.<\/p>\n
Torquay Surf Life Saving Club\u2019s (SLSC) under-19 surfboat team The Buoyos placed first in their category, paddling their way to victory in tough conditions.<\/p>\n
William Popovic, Riley Bell, Louis Martinez, Josh Whitty and Jackson Costa, who faced the waves head on as a united front, haven\u2019t been rowing together long.<\/p>\n
Torquay SLSC president Tiffany Quinlan said although the boys are fresh out of high school, their commitment to training sessions leading up to the international competition got them over the line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conditions were pretty rough\u2026 terrible weather and sizeable surf, but the team navigated their way through brilliantly.\u201d<\/p>\n
A relatively new side to come out of the SLSC, the five boys combined their individual river backgrounds to deliver a strong performance in Adelaide\u2019s Glenelg.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir knowledge of the surfboats in Torquay as well as their high school rowing experience gelled together to bring home the win,\u201d Ms Quinlan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a lovely surprise and if I\u2019m being honest, it was quite unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Buoyos win wasn\u2019t the only medal for Torquay, with the SLSC\u2019s under-23 men\u2019s team \u2013 The Torquay Pirates, featuring Davis Kontelj, Manning Gatwick, Jacob Morgan, Stephen Christopi and Scott Tannahill (sweep) \u2013 placing third and scoring bronze in their category.<\/p>\n
Further down the coast, Lorne Surf Club\u2019s Lorne Edge team consisting of Chantal Guziak, Megan Grierson, Peta Glaister and Michelle Yann won gold in the open women\u2019s surfboats.<\/p>\n
The club also won gold in the masters section with their Lorne Again team \u2013 which is also swept by Geoff Matthews \u2013 winning the Masters 160 class.<\/p>\n
Lorne Growlers Brad Kerr, Andrew Duffield, John Halloran, Jarred McCombe swept by Alistair McCombe also had some success, while Lorne\u2019s A-grade men\u2019s team was pipped on the line placing fourth in the finals.<\/p>\n
With two more athletes from Torquay \u2013 Archie Vernon and Jaime Patterson \u2013 waiting to compete in the championship\u2019s individual categories, the winning streak may have only just begun for the Surf Coast\u2019s lifesaving clubs.<\/p>\n
Ms Quinlan said she was excited to see how the rest of the biennial event played out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wins are a real testament to the club and proves if you work hard, train hard and have a goal, anything can happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BOTH Torquay\u2019s and Lorne\u2019s lifesaving clubs have taken home gold after scoring big at the Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide this week. Torquay Surf Life Saving Club\u2019s (SLSC) under-19 surfboat team The Buoyos placed first in their category, paddling their way to victory in tough conditions. William Popovic, Riley Bell, Louis Martinez, Josh Whitty and […]<\/p>\n