THE WOMEN’S Peninsula Surfriders have recorded the club’s best finish in their first attempt at the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships on Friday 27 April.
After taking out the qualifiers at Rye Back Beach last month, the women headed to the national championships for their first time at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast and finished up in seventh position.
Peninsula Surfriders club president Lachy McDonald said they unfortunately headed up to the nationals not at full strength but couldn’t be happier with the end result.
“To be competing at the nationals is something that we are quite proud of so we went up there even though we weren’t at full strength,” he said.
“We only had two of the girls from the qualifiers travel up there but a few past club members who were up on the Gold Coast filled in which was great to see.
“It definitely would have helped that they were experienced in those conditions.”
This year’s women’s competition was the first time that it had a “true national women’s final” as it previously used to only have Queensland and New South Wales competing. It couldn’t have gotten underway in better conditions though as McDonald said it was the “best they’ve ever had” for the championships.
The men also sent a team up to the nationals after qualifying in second position with Ron Gorringe making an appearance in the over-30s role as McDonald had to stay back due to work commitments.
While the men finished in 22nd position on the ladder, McDonald said it was an achievement in itself to make it to the nationals and get a team together to compete.
Snapper Rocks (96.46) finished 18.45 point clear of second-placed Elouera (78.01) to take out the men’s division. While D’Bah Boardriders (67.16) won their fourth straight Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian title in the women’s division and in doing so have become the most successful team in Surftag history.
Peninsula Surfriders are set to run their second aggregate surfing competition in the coming weeks with Supergroms re-commencing after the Easter break.
First published in the Mornington News – 22 May 2018
