Involvement in Surf Sports at any level – be it a competitor, coach or official – requires sincere and often unrivalled commitment to stand out in the field.
As we edge closer to our NSW Awards of Excellence ceremony – a night to celebrate the incredible people in our organisation and the impact they have on their clubs, its members and their local communities – we are shining a light on some of the inspirational people who are being recognised for their contribution to the community through Surf Life Saving.
The Surf Sports category includes Official of the Year, Coach of the Year, Masters Athlete of the Year and Surf Sports Team of the Year. (Athlete of the Year is awarded as part of the Major awards category)
Perhaps the most important aspect of running a carnival and, in turn the facilitator to each of the following categories, Official of the Year is a chance to reward the hard-working volunteers on the beach who keep things running smoothly.
Anthony Lanyon from Wollongong City SLSC and Brianna Rosenbaum from Broulee Surfers SLSC are both in line to become the first winners from their branch, while Ken Sellers from The Entrance SLSC could become the first two-time winner since SLSNSW Director and Chair of Surf Sports, Don van Keimpema OAM went back-to-back in the years between 2012 and 2013.
Stacey Gay presents a strong case out of the Caves Beach SLSC club in Hunter Branch, having become the first female carnival referee last year to oversee the Sharkskin NSW IRB Championships, while Peter Lougher from Minnie Water-Wooli SLSC is being recognised as a ‘Mr Fix It’ official – always first on beach, last to leave and filling any roles that are required.
A host of exceptional coaches are being rewarded for their efforts this year and will contest the highly-competitive category of Coach of the Year – recognising the people who make it possible for our athletes to perform when it counts, by honing their techniques and motivating them to strive for success.
Cases can be made for every nominee – Kirk Allen’s Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC went back-to-back at the Oakberry Acai NSW Country Championships earlier this year after an intense, long-term program on the South Coast led to them finally toppling perennial champions, Cudgen Headland SLSC the year prior.
His sparring partner on the Far North Coast, Scott McCartney, meanwhile, helped Cudgen to achieve an enormous points haul and a host of impressive results with a smaller squad.
Scott Bryant led Caves Beach to another Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership and Championship double and warrants consideration, while last year’s winner, Glenn Beveridge from Wollongong City SLSC is back to defend his crown.
In the Masters Athlete of the Year category, the evergreen Darren Drewsen from Broulee Surfers and Rachel Crerar from Manly LSC are both backing up from the Coach of the Year category as well, and Nowra-Culburra SLSC’s Chad Poland is a stalwart of the water events, but one name stands out like a sore thumb – that of 13-time winner Paul Lemmon.
The Terrigal SLSC clubbie is as dominant as they come in the category and, historically, has never had more than three years between wins. He was last named the Masters Athlete of the Year in 2020.
Speaking of 2020, that’s the last time the Bulli Open Men’s Boat Crew won the Surf Sports Team of the Year award. With three Aussies Open titles since, another win could be on the cards.
Five Surf Boat teams overall will contest the category this year – a great advertisement for the sport – however strong entries from teams including the Warilla Barrack Point U15 Male Surf Team, the Cudgen Headland U15 Male Board Rescue team, and the U14 Female Board Relay team from Black Head SLSC will all be a chance.
All won gold at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships in their event, and all medalled at Aussies with Warilla’s Surf Team of Maddix Burke, Mack Elliot, Max Miller and Kobe Sims finishing first.
2024 FINALISTS
Official of the Year
Peter Allsopp, Cudgen Headland SLSC
Peter Lougher, Minnie Water-Wooli SLSC
Leanne Hatherly, Tacking Point SLSC
Malcolm Flew, Cape Hawke SLSC
Stacey Gay, Caves Beach SLSC
Ken Sellers, The Entrance SLSC
Gordon Lang, Palm Beach SLSC
Andrew Bloxsom, Coogee SLSC
Anthony Lanyon, Wollongong City SLSC
Michael Crowle, Mollymook SLSC
Brianna Rosenbaum, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Coach of the Year
Scott McCartney, Cudgen Headland SLSC
Mick Lang, Tacking Point SLSC
Andy Snelgar, Taree-Old Bar SLSC
Scott Bryant, Caves Beach SLSC
Ryan Quick, Terrigal SLSC
Rachel Crerar, Manly LSC
Andrew Newrick, South Maroubra SLSC
Glenn Beveridge, Wollongong City SLSC
Kirk Allen, Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Darren Drewsen, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Masters Athlete of the Year
Joanne Kay, Byron Bay SLSC
Raelene Myers, Port Macquarie SLSC
Kasey Brown, Taree-Old Bar SLSC
Max Hoste, Caves Beach SLSC
Paul Lemmon, Terrigal SLSC
Rachel Crerar, Manly LSC
Simon Nothling, Bondi SBLSC
Kaye Norris, Windang SLSC
Chad Poland, Nowra-Culburra SLSC
Darren Drewsen, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Surf Sports Team of the Year
U15 Male Board Rescue, Cudgen Headland SLSC
U19 Male ‘Orcas’ Surf Boat Crew, Port Macquarie SLSC
U14 Female Board Relay, Black Head SLSC
Open Male IRB Tube Rescue, Caves Beach SLSC
U17 Female Ski Relay, Terrigal SLSC
U19 Female ‘Puddles’ Surf Boat Crew, Palm Beach SLSC
Open Male ‘The Weapons’ Surf Boat Crew, Wanda SLSC
Open Male Surf Boat Crew, Bulli SLSC
U15 Male Surf Team, Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Masters Male ‘Mixed Grill’ Surf Boat Crew, Broulee Surfers SLSC
Wednesday 21 August 2024