Long term goal nailed at Aussies last month

IF you ask Kurt Hanson who inspired him to become Freshwater’s first Aussie open water champion in 32 years, he’ll instantly say his grandfather.

John Mills And Kurt Hanson Picture: Supplied

If  YOU ask Kurt Hanson who inspired him to become Freshwater’s first Aussie open water champion in 32 years, he’ll instantly say his grandfather.

Like his older sister, former Olympic swimmer and gold medallist Brooke Hanson, both were in the water as toddlers with grandad John Mills.

Mills, of course, was a champion in the surf with the great Freshwater R and R teams of the 1950s that also included Norman May and won four Aussies.

He also won bronze in the open surf and belt.

But Kurt has done something his grandad couldn’t – win an open surf belt title.

At Scarborough in April, Hanson powered home beat Northcliffe gun Dev Lahey and Manly’s Nathan Smith, who he had never beaten in any form of race before.

Mills, 86, drove down from Coffs Harbour at the weekend to attend Freshwater Surf Club’s presentation night and it was fitting that he presented Kurt with a club blazer for winning the Australian open belt – the club’s last open national title win in the water was back in 1982 when Darren Bogg won the surf race.

“He (Mills) was my inspiration and the reason I have kept going. This (title) was 15 years in the making,’’ said Hanson.