It has been a great year for Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club Masters competitors, culminating in a very successful State Surf Life Saving Titles at Cudgen Beach, Kingscliff last week.
Port Macquarie SLSC came away with five Gold Medals — one of the most successful in the Club’s history particularly for the Women.
This season we have had an injection of new enthusiasm among a few Club members to compete at the Masters level (particularly women). This, combined with some amazingly talented veteran competitors, set the Club off on a path which has seen some fantastic results from the Masters competitors at carnivals, culminating in a very successful State Championships at Kingscliff last week.
In the State Masters Competition, the Club came third out of all the Country teams (behind Byron Bay and Cudgen) and 17th overall (out of 76 Clubs!).
The Port Mac Masters Team set off mid-week to compete on Thursday. Some had been there before, for others it was their first time and one person just wanted to go up there to be watergirl — but ended up walking away with a Bronze in the Beach Flags!
The weather was fine (cloudy) and the surf flat (with a couple of shore waves thrown in for good measure). There were a couple of potholes to contend with, but all in all, the surf was kind.
The team events were first order of the day and the Port Mac teams did the Club proud, coming in GOLD in the Surf Swim (Girls), BRONZE in the Taplin (Girls) and BRONZE in the Ski Relay (Boys).
Carolyn Turnham took away two individual golds in the Rescue Tube and Surf Swim — bettering her Silver results from last year. Carolyn will be competing at Nationals on the Gold Coast on April 2 this year.
It was Mel Cockshutt and Gail Martin’s first State Competition.
“I was not sure what to expect. It was an amazing day — full of memories and experiences. I will definitely be back next year,” said Gail Martin a Bronze Medallist in the Beach Flags.
The Girls from Port Macquarie did awesome and got a total of nine individual medals between them and three Team Medals! It would be the best result for women in the Club’s history.
It’s Melinda Cockshutt’s and Gail Martin’s first season in competition and Paula Stone’s first Masters competition. Paula was coming back into competition after a few years away. Carolyn Turnham has attended two previous State titles and last year won two silver medals (Swim and Rescue Tube).
Liam Wright, Selena Warrington and Bayden Purnell were competing in the U15, U17 and U19 respectively in various Beach events over the weekend.
Team Results:
GOLD – Women 110 Year Plus Swim Teams: Paula, Carolyn and Mel. Held out Redhead and Coogee. (The 110 plus years — we had to add our ages together and get over the 110 years).
SILVER — Women 30-34 Year Board Rescue (Paula and Mel). Mel had to race down an age-group to compete with Paula.
SILVER — Men Double Ski (40-44yo) Rob Hiatt and Ray Chapman.
BRONZE — Women 110 Year PlusTaplin Relay (Carolyn (Swim), Paul (Ski), Mel (Board))
BRONZE — Men 130 Year Plus Sky Relay (Rob Hiatt, Scott Oxenford, Ray Chapman). All Veterans of the Club. Behind Red Head and Manly.
Individual Results
GOLD — Mel Cockshutt 2km Beach Run (35-39yo)
GOLD — Liam Wright 2km Beach Run (U15)
GOLD — Carolyn Turnham Surf Swim (45-49yo)
GOLD — Carolyn Turnham Rescue Tube (45-49yo)
BRONZE — Gail Martin Flags (40-44yo)
BRONZE — Paula Stone Ski (30-34yo)
BRONZE — Paula Stone Ironperson (30-34yo)
BRONZE — Mel Cockshutt Surf Swim (35-39yo)
BRONZE — Mel Cockshutt Board (35-39yo)
BRONZE — Mel Cockshutt Rescue Tube (35-39yo)
4th — David Plews Flags
6th — Rob Hiatt (40-44yo) Ski.
6th — Selena Warrington (U17) Beach Sprint.
