By admin

SEASPRAY MAKES WAVES AT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LORNE  

Seaspray Surf Club has capped off this season with an impressive performance at the 2021 Life Saving Victoria Youth/Senior Victorian Life Saving State Championships in Lorne.

The 15-strong contingent from Seaspray lined up against 700 athletes representing 30 surf life saving clubs from across the state.

While the challenging conditions forced the postponement of the surf boat events, the Seaspray team again showed its skill and talent in the surf and on the sand.

Jessica Jackson continued her top form this season, winning gold in the beach flags to become the under 19 Victoria champion. She placed fourth in the open beach flags and in the under 19 beach sprint.

Jessica teamed up with Bridget Brown and two competitors from Altona Surf Life Saving Club to win silver in the open mixed relay. The pair won a second silver in the under 19 mixed relay with two competitors representing Chelsea and Williamstown surf clubs.

Bridget won her third silver medal in the under 19 beach sprint and came seventh in both the under 19 beach flags and the open beach sprint.

Courtney McDonough also came home from Lorne with four medals: two gold, a silver and a bronze.  She placed second in the under 17 two-kilometre beach run, first in the under 17 mixed relay, first in the under 19 female relay in a composite team with competitors from Hampton, and third in the under 17 beach flags.  She also came fifth in the under 17 beach sprint.

Zali Gallagher was awarded the silver medal in the under 15 beach flags and came fourth in the under 15 beach sprint, while her older brother Owen Gallagher came home with bronze in the under 17 beach sprint.

Tom Fleming and James Robbins secured fifth place in the under 19 double ski, while Rod Centra made the final of the men’s open ski event.

Seaspray Surf Club President Chris Fleming said the club was proud of its athletes’ achievements.

“All of our members who compete at state and national level carnivals train hard and are dedicated to their sport – and these outstanding results are proof of that,” Mr Fleming said.

“Competing against other surf life saving clubs is an important way that we ensure our surf life savers maintain their skills and fitness and remain ‘rescue ready’.

“These results are testament to their hard work and everyone at the club is proud of what they have achieved and for the work they do for our community.”

Patrols will continue at Seaspray until the season ends on April 18 on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 4pm.

By admin

MEDIA RELEASE 16 March 2021 

SEASPRAY SURF CLUB NAMES ITS AGE CHAMPIONS  

Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club has marked the approaching end of the surf life saving season with the running of its annual club championships. 

The championships were held on Saturday morning in warm conditions with a heavy shorbreak that challenged both the young Nippers and experienced life savers competing in the swim and wade events. 

The strength of the waves forced organisers to move the board races and iron Nipper events to nearby Merriman Creek for the younger competitors, while older club members pitted their skill and strength against the surf – and one another – in the board, ski and iron events. 

The club championships signalled the end of the season for the club’s youngest members, but was another valuable opportunity to train and compete for those who’ll be representing Seaspray at this weekend’s Victorian Lifesaving Championships at Lorne. 

President Chris Fleming said the championships marked the end of a season like no other at Seaspray.   

“The club championships are an opportunity for our members to come together on the beach and enjoy a morning of friendly competition,” Mr Fleming said. 

“For our youth and senior members, competitions of this kind are a way of maintaining their life saving skills to remain ‘rescue readyThese events are also great chance for our new families and members of the community to see our experienced life savers in action and compete alongside one another. 

 “The club is incredibly proud of what our members have achieved this season, particularly our young Nippers who joined us at the beach for the first time. The wider community, too, should be proud of their surf life savers and feel confident in the skill and ability of those who watch over them at the beach. 

 “The coronavirus pandemic forced us to do things differently at the surf club this past year and I am proud of all our members, particularly those who were on patrol, for all they were able to do to keep people safe at the beach. 

 Those named as age champions at the Seaspray Club Championships were: 

Evie Whittaker, under 7 female
Patrick Morrison, under 7 male
Ella Francis, under 8 female 
Harlow Dowsett, under 8 male 
Kiah Dowsett, under 9 female 
Jack McLay, under 9 male
Milly O’Brien, under 10 female
Remy Stephenson, under 10 male
Max McLay, under 11 male
Lillian Canfield, under 12 female 
Jett McMahon, under 12 male
Jimmy Greenwood and Dean Feltis, under 13 male
Charlotte Stephenson and Emma Feltis, under 14 female
Luke Dwyer, under 14 male
Lola Wilson, under 15 female 
Luca Centra, under 15 male
Kate Ronchi, under 17 female
Zac Bloink, under 17 male 
Tom Fleming, under 19 male 
Bridget Brown, under 19 and open female
Loughlin Brown, open male 

While the beach training sessions are now over for the youngest club members, beach patrols at Seaspray will continue until 18 April. Until then, the beach will be patrolled from 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and public holidays. 

Seaspray Surf Club’s age champions were named after the club championships were held on Saturday morning. A contingent from Seaspray will head to Lorne this weekend to compete at the Victorian Lifesaving Championships. 

By admin

MEDIA RELEASE 16 March 2021 

LIFE SAVING VICTORIA HONOURS SEASPRAY’S AMY FLEMING

Life Saving Victoria has named Amy Fleming from Seaspray Surf Club as an outstanding woman in life saving.

Amy was among a number of women from across Victoria to be honoured at a Life Saving Victoria breakfast event to mark International Women’s Day.

The group was recognised for its contribution to and achievements in life saving, drowning prevention and the emergency services.

Seaspray Surf Club President Chris Fleming said Amy was one of the club’s young leaders.

“Amy has been involved with the surf club since she was a Nipper competing in the under sevens,” Mr Fleming said.

“Through her involvement in the Youth Involvement Program, Amy co-ordinated fundraising activities to raise funds to make improvements to the youth area and buy a smart tv that’s now a valuable training tool.”

Now 21, Amy is a mentor for younger members, supports and instructs the club’s young Nippers while they’re in the surf, and helps to train the club’s Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion candidates.

Mr Fleming said Amy was known at the club for her enthusiasm and commitment to surf life saving.

“Amy has progressed through the ranks at the club: she has now been a patrol captain for the past three years and is an experienced open ski competitor,” Mr Fleming said.

“Her dedication to the club has been particularly important over the past 12 months when the club needed to rely on members aged over 18 years to patrol the beach during the pandemic.

“Amy is also known for her involvement in the Maffra Mardi Gras in 2018 when she and her committee raised $35,000 for the surf club over six weeks.

“That was a huge effort and helped our club to finish off our new clubhouse and to buy much-needed equipment to train our younger members.

“Amy is one of the great young people at Seaspray Surf Club and we are extremely proud of her and her achievements.”

At just 21, Amy Fleming from Seaspray Surf Club has been honoured for her contribution to and achievements in life saving, drowning prevention and the emergency services.