Bondi retains ‘Stan Mac relay’
Old-timers hailed Bondi’s recent successful defence of the 20-person “Stan Mac relay” against neighbouring surf club rival North Bondi as one of the most convincing wins they’ve seen in the 69-year history of the Stan and Basil McDonald Memorial Relay.
Bondi led from start to finish in the gruelling contest swum in testing and choppy surf with strong rips on an outgoing tide.
Team captain Grant Baldock anchored the Bondi team home on the final leg, finishing nearly four minutes clear of his North Bondi rival, with Bondi supporters forming a guard of honour to the finish line.
Much of the credit for Bondi’s success was attributed to swim coaches Steve Delorenzo and Simon Watkins, who spent many hours preparing the squad for the event. Delorenza and Watkins instilled discipline in the squad, insisting they attend three weekly surf sessions in the six weeks before the event. They also included five women in the Bondi team who performed admirably.
Bondi’s team — in swim-off order — was Simon Nothling, Richard Campbell, Michael Pollard, Liliana Guiscardo, Adriel Young, Danny McKell, Lochie Hines, Louise Stevenson, Madeline Blomberg, Scott Van Doormaal, Luane Rowe, Josh Yuide, Adam Nezval, Brad Horrey, Xavier Clarke, Andrea Miller, Michael Firmin, Simon Watkins, Tom Miller and Grant Baldock.
North Bondi was represented by Cameron Spittle, Brett Johnson, Steve Middleton, Campbell Bennett, John McCarthy, Trent Knox, James Ross Jnr, Matt Hamilton, Mitch Crow, John Clothier, Joel Maybury, Jessica Suriano Jnr, Scott Thomson, Tim Shaw, Brian May, Thomas Allsopp Jnr, Dale Van Haren, Talbot Henry, Benjamin Ridge and Peter Colquhoun.
