Wamberal Surf Life Saving Club

Seniors

Director of Competition – Susan O'Hara

We are always looking for new members to join the ranks of our Masters competitors.  It is a great way to meat like minded people, and lots of fun! If you are interested in joining and competing, please contact the office for more details.

Overview of the 2007/2008 Season

This season was a great one for the Wamberal Hornets. Although the girls didn’t attend many carnivals, the ones they did get to they proved their worth especially at the Masters Branch at Ocean Beach in the pouring rain the girls walked away with a swag of medals among them. They included:

30-34 yr Beach Sprint Gold - Kylie Stewart
Beach Flags Gold - Kylie Stewart
35-39yr Beach Sprint Gold - Susan O’Hara, Silver Jane Hughes, Bronze Kelly Adams
140+ Women’s Beach Relay Gold - Jane Hughes, Susan O’Hara, Kylie Stewart, Ann Wooldridge

The men also competed at this carnival with Andrew Fortis winning gold in the 35-39yr beach flags and Shane Knight
taking out the silver, Shane also won gold in the 35-39yr beach sprint.

Unfortunately for Craig “Stretch” Adams, he was left doing the Hawaii-5-O after losing half of his ski paddle at the cans.

Germany 2008

The following week three of the girls backed up with Tiff Piper to enter the Open Branch and again showed they are a force to be reckoned with when they won convincingly against girls half their age. The team consisted of Jane Hughes, Susan O’Hara, Kylie Stewart, and Tiff Piper. Kylie also took out silver in the beach sprint.

The next main carnival was Masters State at Swansea/Belmont. The girls all traveled up together with a pit stop at Macca’s Swansea for a regulation coffee.

 

The first event was the beach sprint with Kylie taking out gold in the 35-39yr. This was followed by the beach flags where Kylie won gold again retaining her title. In the men’s 35-39yr age there was lots of excitement with Andrew Fortis out in the lead on most of the runs, when it came down to the final run he was up against he old rival from Wanda, there was a big dive – half the beach was dug up, when all had settled it was Andrew that was holding the flag to win the gold.

Finally it was the beach relay, last season the Hornets finished with a silver and were determined to go one better. The team of Jane Hughes, Susan O’Hara, Kylie Stewart & Kelly Adams showed everyone what determination and hard work can do by becoming the State Champions in the 140+ age group. Of course the men gave it a go in the relay to try and show the girls up but with a couple of baton drops this was not to be and the boys finished out of medal contention. Tracey O’Meara was also competing in the 40-44yr but due to an injury in her quad in the sprints was forced to the bench for the rest of the day but showed the true Wambi spirit cheering on her team mates, we look forward to having her back next season.

Most Improved Masters Competitor of the Year
– Kelly Adams Presented by Director of Commercial
Activities – Sean O’Hara

Australian Titles were next in Scarborough in Perth, only Susan O’Hara and Kylie Stewart attended. The medal tally was Kylie Silver in Flags and Gold in the sprint. Susan finished in 6th place in the sprint and was unlucky to be disqualified for breaking in the first round of the flags.

And for those who don’t know the results of the World Titles – Wamberal Hornets consisting of Susan O’Hara, Kylie Stewart & Kelly Adams became World Champions in Germany by winning the 110+ Beach Relay. Kylie also won gold in the 35-39yr Beach Sprint and Flags with Susan taking out the Bronze in the same flags. The girls were very proud of their achievements and would like to thank Andrew Fortis and Steve Ella for all their hours coaching in the 12 weeks leading up to them flying out to Germany. Their expertise and knowledge improved the girl’s chances immensely.

It would be great if we could build on the competition side of the club, so come on all you parents who sit there and support your kids at nippers, get your bronze, give it a go and join a group that love the Wambi spirit. There is a great social side and everyone supports each other. In December we are looking to get a big group to go to Pacific Palms and win the “Toilet Seat” at their carnival and of course there is our very own Nutty Masters in November.

 

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