Bondi going strong into season’s major surf carnivals
Bondi surf lifesavers have shown strong form at metropolitan carnivals in the lead-up to the season’s major championships. The club’s R & R teams were most prominent at two Northern Beaches carnivals – Manly and then four days later at the Freshwater club’s carnival at Harbord on Australia Day.
They won the open women’s five-person double at both Manly and Freshwater, took first place also at Manly, and third at Freshwater in the open mixed six-person event, as well as a trio of other top-three R & R team placings.
Other Bondi finalists at the Manly carnival were Luane Rowe (second in the open women’s surf race); Louise Stevenson, Maddie Blomberg and Andrea Miller (open women’s open surf race); Lochie Hinds and Scott van Doormaal (open men’s surf race); Sabrina Warwar (women’s under-17 surf race); the open men’s taplin relay team, Matt Colquhoun and Jack Gencher and Greg Byrnes and Adrial Young (open men’s double ski); Byrnes and Sarah Veckranges (open mixed double ski); and Veckranges (women’s under-17 ski).
In January, craft squad coach Colquhoun and promising under-17 competitor Veckranges placed third in the open mixed double ski at the Wanda carnival where Bondi was also represented in seven other finals.
The Sydney branch championships, for the 15 clubs between North Bondi and Burning Palms, will be held at Wanda on the February 12-13 weekend. The NSW championships at Swansea-Belmont, south of Newcastle, will follow from February 25-28 and then the Australian championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast from April 2-10.
Meanwhile, Bondi was well represented in placings in the recent Palm Beach to Whale Beach and Warriewood to Mona Vale ocean swims.
Bondi representatives who won 2.5km Palm Beach to Whale Beach sectional events were: Luane Rowe (women’s 20-24 years); Louise Stevenson (women’s 25-29 years); Dori Miller (women’s 40-44 years); Lea Hill (women’s 65-69 years); Ryan Huckle (men’s 30-34 years); Cyril Baldock (men’s 65-69 years); and the Bondi A-team of Rowe, Lochie Hinds, Huckle and Josh Beard (surf teams event).
Rowe was first and Stevenson third overall in the Warriewood to Mona Vale open women’s race. Stevenson also won the 25-29 years age category; Simon Watkins was second in the men’s 35-39 years division, and Andrea Miller third in the women’s 25-29 years group.
