BATEMANS Bay Surf Life Saving Club’s (SLSC) women’s surfboat crew made it a clean sweep of the major events this season, winning a gold medal at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
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The Thunderbirdz crew of Danielle Heron, Felicity Waipuka Clark, Barbara Van Luin, Tracy Innes and sweep Neil Innes were dominant in the 160 yrs women’s event this season and added a third gold to its Australian Surf Rowers League Open and the NSW championship medals.
The crew were convincing winners in all three heats at North Kirra, Queensland, to edge out Mermaid Beach SLSC and Woolgoolga SLSC.
Going into the races, the crew was admittedly nervous.
“We were a bit more nervy than we would normally be because in the past two years we won silver and came over the line with the other crews,” Tracy said.
The Bay made sure of its win powering to the finish as clear winners of each heat.
“We had fairly convincing wins and in all honesty we did not back off,” Tracy said.
“Normally we ease off a bit but there was going to be no doubts this time.”
Tracy said the surf was “huge” which also played on the crew’s nerves.
“We were aware that you could be the best on the beach but a wave could take you out,” she said.
“We wanted to make sure we had a good head start and kept the lead the whole way.
“It’s just the luck of the draw (in large surf).”
The crew was rapt in Neil’s sweeping and his experience proved to be a main factor in the win.
“He did a great job,” Tracy said.
“It was really awkward (for the sweep).
“It’s typical of the Queensland beaches that the inside shore break has so much run in it and waves on the outside break make a bad cross current.
“The cross current swings the boat sideways which is hard on the sweeps, but we’re lucky we had Neil so we don’t have to worry.”
The crew tackled the open event later in the week and missed out on the finals by a point.
Tracy said that they would be back “with a vengeance” next year.
“Flick’s new and only been with us for a year and Danielle only had four months training,” she said.
“The girls proved themselves in nasty conditions all year.”
Moruya also tackled the Australian championships.
The crew of Nicole Cowdroy, Clare Immens, Melissa Van Weerdenburg and Jane and Brad Coppin finished fifth in the 140 yrs division.
