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MEDIA RELEASE Thursday February 20, 2020

EIGHT LOCAL NIPPERS NAMED AGE CHAMPIONS AT SEASPRAY CARNIVAL

Eight young competitors from Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club were last weekend named age champions at the Seaspray Nippers Carnival.

It was the last local nippers carnival of the season for around 100 youngsters from Seaspray, Woodside and Lakes Entrance and their families and friends.

A strong south-easterly wind forced the water events to be moved to nearby Merrimans Creek, while the beach events proceeded as planned nearby on the sand.

Among Seaspray competitors to take age champion honours were:

Under 15 girls: Charlotte Grogan, who won the beach flags, sprint, surf swim, and the board race;

Under 14 girls: Zali Gallagher, who placed first in the beach flags, sprint and board race, second in the iron nipper and third in the swim;

Under 13 girls: Charlotte Stephenson, who came first in the board race and iron nipper, second in the swim and third in the flags;

Under 11 boys: Leo Stephenson, who won the board race and beach flags and came second in the sprint, swim and iron nipper;

Under 11 girls: Lily Canfield, who was first in the swim, board race, board rescue and iron nipper, and third in the flags and sprint;

Under 10 boys: Max McLay, who won all six of his events (flags, sprint, wade, swim, board and iron nipper);

Under 9 boys: Patrick Centra, who had wins in the flags, sprint and wade, came second in the board and swim, and third in the iron nipper; and

Under 8 boys: Jack McLay, who placed first in the flags and board, second in the sprint and third in the swim.

Lola Van Berkel was among Seaspray’s other outstanding competitors. Lola won the wade, swim, board and iron nipper events in the under 10 girls.

Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club President Amanda Castle said the carnival was a great way to begin winding up the season for the young competitors.

“The last nippers session for the current season will be held this Sunday morning, before the Seaspray club championships are held on Saturday, February 29,” Mrs Castle said.

“This whole-of-club carnival will be a chance for our young nippers to compete alongside the club’s youth, senior and masters competitors, including those who’ve won titles at a state and national level.

“It’s a great day for the club’s members to get together on the beach and enjoy a fun day of competition. I’d like to encourage people to come down to Seaspray on the 29th, enjoy a meal at the bistro and see just what our local surf life savers can do.

“It’s been a terrific season for our young nippers, including many who were taking part for the first time, and the club is proud of what they have all achieved.”

Ready to compete in the under 12 board rescue event representing Seaspray are (from left) Evie Humphris, Tara Dihood, Frances Dwyer and Lana Douthat.

Seaspray’s Charlotte Armstrong narrowly defeats Morgan McConville from Woodside to win the under 11 girls flag race.

Lily Canfield was named the under 11 girls age champion after winning the surf swim, board race, board rescue and iron nipper, and coming third in the beach flags and beach sprint.

Around 100 excited and enthusiastic youngsters from Seaspray, Woodside and Lakes Entrance competed at the last local carnival for nippers at Seaspray at the weekend.

Lola Van Berkel was among Seaspray’s top performers, winning the wade, swim, board and iron nipper events in the under 10 girls.

MEDIA RELEASE – February 13, 2020

SEASPRAY’S GOLDEN DAY AT THE VICTORIAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Every competitor from Seaspray who competed at the 2020 Victorian Masters Lifesaving Championships held at Lorne on Saturday came home with a gold medal.

Around 400 competitors from across the state faced challenging conditions in the surf, which the host club said were only seen a few times a year and challenged the most experienced surf life savers.

Despite travelling nearly 400 kilometres to get to the event, the team from Seaspray was rewarded for its effort.

The winners were:

Mat Fleming and Ern Ronchi, who won gold in the 45 to 49 year-old men’s double ski. Mat also won bronze in the 45 to 49 men’s single ski;

Neil Lazzaro, who won gold in the 35 to 39 men’s board and silver in the 35 to 39 men’s iron man.

Rod Centra and Ben Greenwood teamed up to win gold in the 40 to 44 men’s double ski. Rod also won gold in the 40 to 44 men’s single ski and Ben got the bronze in the 35 to 39 men’s single ski.

Seaspray’s team of Glen Boulton, Stuart Mawley, Bruce Johnson, James Brown and Billy Noble, won the surf boat race for teams with a combined age of 220 years or more.

Seaspray’s strong performance continued the next day when Lorne hosted a senior and youth carnival.

Seaspray’s ski paddlers handled the surf better than most, before the remainder of the water events were cancelled due to the challenging conditions.

Jess Jackson continued her success this season with a second in the open women’s flag race and first in the under 19 women’s flag race. Jess came fourth in the under 19 beach sprint.

Teammate Bridget Brown came 8^th in the open women’s beach flag race, fifth in the under 17 beach flag race, and fifth in both the open women’s and under 17 women’s beach sprint. Competing at her first senior and youth carnival, Olivia Hug performed strongly in the beach flags.

Seaspray’s Neil Lazzaro, pictured on the single ski, won gold in the 35 to 39 men’s board race and silver in the 35 to 39 men’s iron man at the Victorian Masters Championship at Lorne. Photo by Brad Walker Photography

Seaspray’s surf boat team of Glen Boulton, Stuart Mawley, Bruce Johnson, James Brown and Billy Noble, won their race for teams with a combined age of 220 years or more at the Victorian Masters Lifesaving Championships held at Lorne. Photo by Brad Walker Photography

MEDIA RELEASE – February 11, 2020

Max McLay came first in all of his events in the under 10 boys, including the iron nipper, while his younger brother Jack came first in the surf swim, board race and beach flags, second in the beach sprint and third in the wade race.

Winners representing Seaspray in the iron nipper event, which comprises a swim, board and run leg, were (from left to right) Lola Van Berkel (under 10 girls), Max McLay (under 10 boys), Jimmy Greenwood (under 13 boys), Max Castle (rear, under 14 boys), Leo Stephenson (under 11 boys), Charlotte Stephenson (under 13 girls) and Lily Canfield  (under 11 girls).

Mackenzie Gibbs swam strongly to win the under 8 girls surf swim at the Lakes Entrance Nippers Carnival.

Adelaide Ripper (centre) won the under 9 girls board event with Milly O’Brien (right), who placed second. Their teammate Ellie Reid (left) came sixth. Earlier, Milly won the under 9 girls surf swim with Adelaide in second place.

Seaspray’s team of nippers, some of whom were competing at their first carnival, were in high spirits during the Lakes Entrance Nippers Carnival on Sunday, despite the grey sky and early rain.

MEDIA RELEASE February 7, 2020

Competitors from Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club took home a handy collection of pennants from the state surf life saving carnival hosted by the club at the weekend.

Club president Amanda Castle said the team from Seaspray had an advantage over their rivals at the carnival, the only state level carnival to be held east of Western Port Bay this season.

“The forecast was for challenging weather on Saturday, so we decided to shift the events planned for that day to Sunday. Instead of a two-day carnival, we were able to hold all of the events on just one day,” Mrs Castle said.

“Seaspray is known for its difficult conditions, but our local competitors are experienced, know the beach well and understand how to use the conditions to their advantage.

“The Dash for Cash still went ahead on Saturday afternoon, attracting friendly competition between entrants. It was very entertaining for all the spectators who gathered to watch in front of the club house.”

Around 130 competitors from across Victoria took part in the carnival. Among the local place getters were Jess Jackson, who won both the Under 19 and Open Women’s Beach Flags; Bridget Brown, second in the Open Women’s Beach Flags; Courtney McDonough, first in the Under 17 Women’s 2km Run; James Robbins, Tom Fleming, and Ari Fleming, first in the Under 19 Men’s Ski Relay; James Robbins, second in the Under 19 Men’s Ski; and Zac Bloink, Owen Gallagher and Angus Hugg, first in the Under 17 Men’s Board Relay. Seaspray also won the Under 19 Women’s Beach Relay.  Complete results from the carnival are not yet officially available from Life Saving Victoria, which will post the results on its website.

“This event was the first state carnival for five of our Under 14 youth members, who’ve stepped up from Nippers last season. They all gave it their best and the club is very proud of them,” Mrs Castle said.

“I also want to thank all everyone who helped out over the weekend. Events like this can’t run without assistance from our water safety volunteers, local officials and Life Saving Victoria. We also had invaluable support from Woodside’s IRB crew, Brydie and Graeme Hurrell, who spent most of the day on the water.”

(From left to right): Zac Bloink, Owen Gallagher and Angus Hugg came first in the Under 17 Men’s Board Relay.

Courtney McDonough (left) won the Under 17 Women’s 2km run, while Jess Jackson (centre) won both the Under 19 and the Open Women’s Beach Flags, and Bridget Brown (right) came second in the Open Women’s Beach Flags and was a member of the winning Under 19 Women’s Beach Relay team.

Ella Ronchi (left) and Amy Fleming (right) teamed up with a competitor from Inverloch to race in the Open Women’s Ski Relay.

Seaspray’s winning Under 19 Men’s Ski Relay team (left to right) James Robbins, Tom Fleming and Ari Fleming.

There was friendly competition between the second and first place getters, Bridget Brown and Jess Jackson, in the Open Women’s Beach Flags.

Trying to keep warm while not competing were (from left to right) Zac Bloink, Courtney McDonough (back), Amy Fleming, Angus Hugg (back), Jess Jackson, Abi Allman and James Robbins.

MEDIA RELEASE – January 21, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Photo:  Athletes from Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club, like Bridget Brown and Tom Fleming (both on the left), will line up against competitors across Victoria when Seaspray hosts a two-day surf life saving carnival on February 1^st and 2^nd.

SEASPRAY TO HOST VICTORIA’S BEST SURF LIFE SAVERS

Surf life savers from across Victoria are heading to Seaspray to compete at a two-day carnival designed to test their life saving skills and their fitness.

Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club President Amanda Castle said the carnival was open to competitors in the under 14 and 15 age groups to under 17s and open.

“This year’s sports carnival calendar for surf life saving has taken competitors from the state’s west coast to beaches around Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay,” Mrs Castle said. “There are also carnivals held interstate for our top level competitors.

“Seaspray is the only location east of Western Port Bay to host a carnival this season and one of seven senior carnivals of the year before state championships in March at Lorne. 

“This carnival is a fantastic chance for Gippsland’s surf clubs, including Lakes Entrance, Woodside, Wonthaggi and Inverloch, to compete against the best in the state.

“The carnival at Seaspray is known for its social atmosphere and life savers from across the state enjoy coming here to compete.”

Competitors in the carnival will compete in individual and team events, including sprint swims, surf races, board relays, beach sprints, surf boat and ironman and ironwoman events.

“I want to encourage people to come down to Seaspray on Saturday 1 February from midday and Sunday 2 February from 8am to watch and support your local surf life saving club,” Mrs Castle said.

“It’s a great chance to learn more about what we do at Seaspray Surf Club and see some of the state’s best athletes compete against one another.

“People often say if you can handle the surf at Seaspray, you can handle anything. It will be interesting to see how our guests from surf clubs across the state manage the conditions here.”

A highlight of the weekend will be Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club’s annual Dash for Cash competition held after the last event on Saturday afternoon.

The eight Dash for Cash races are only open to qualified life savers. They include a swim, board and ski race for both men and women, plus a three-person Taplin relay with a swim, board and ski leg. Teams will be drawn out of a hat for the Mixed Taplin, which means competitors from Seaspray are likely to team up with athletes from other surf clubs.

“The Dash for Cash is a great event. It’s hugely popular with the competitors and also with spectators as there are always lots of thrills and spills,” Mrs Castle said.

“It’s going to be a big weekend at Seaspray. We also have a private function for our life members and 2000 Club members on Saturday afternoon from 3pm.

“The Waves Bistro and Sandbar will be open all weekend for breakfast, lunch and dinner and there’ll be live entertainment on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, the club will have a BBQ to support our Nippers.”