The best surf life saving athletes in Australia converge on Queensland for the Aussies
It’s the final day of Open racing at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and we are ready to bring you all the latest results. STAY UP TO DATE WITH RESULTS.
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Ali Day has added his name to the history books, today winning his first ever Australian Surf Life Saving Ironman crown.
Returning this season after more than 670 days on the sideline due to injury and COVID-19, Day’s comeback has been flawless winning all rounds of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series and today leaving the field in his wake to take out the 2021 Australian Ironman title.
Day attributed his win to his family, coach and mentor, the legendary six time Australian Ironman champion Trevor Hendy, who is president of Day’s Surfers Paradise Club.
Small conditions once again greeted the field, with Day coming out of the swim in second place, before pushing through to first in the board leg.
It was in the ski that he cemented his lead, finishing a good 10 seconds in front of Newport’s Jackson Borg and Northcliffe’s Matt Bevilacqua.
In the women’s event, Northcliffe’s Georgia Miller successfully defended her Australian Ironwoman title, to cap off a perfect Aussies.
It’s been a golden haul for Miller, who has won an impressive nine gold medals including earlier today winning the surf race and board race.
Miller delivered an impressive Ironwoman final, finishing ahead of Nutri-Grain Series champion Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland) and Newport’s Lizzie Wellborn.
IRONMAN: 1.DAY, Ali, AD ; 2. BORG, Jackson, JB; 3. BEVILACQUA, Matt, MB; 4. FURNISS, Jay, JF; 5. BEATTIE, Max, MB; 6. GRAY, Nathan, NG; 7. WHITE, Hayden, HW 8. KINSELA, Ky, KK; 9. CARBERRY, Ben, BC; 10. COTTER, Hayden, HC.
IRONWOMAN: 1.MILLER, Georgia, GM ; 2. ROGERS, Lana, LR; 3. WELBORN, Lizzie, LW; 4. HANCOCK, Courtney, CH; 5. SCOTT, Naomi, NS; 6. MCKENZIE, Danielle, DM; 7. MASSIE, Tiarnee, TM; 8. SMITH, Jemma, JS; 9. PAPAC, Carla, CP; 10. COOPER, Brielle, BC
OPENS DAY 4: Newport has dominated the Open Men’s Double Skis to claim all podium finishes on Day four of the Open Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at the Sunshine Coast.
After eight years the combination of Luke Jones and Mitchell Trim were finally able to bring home the gold medal they had been after, taking the win over fellow Newport teammates Jayke Rees and Max Brooks (silver) and Greg Tobin and Luke Morrison (bronze).
Emotions ran high as they crossed the line, choking back the tears as both men were quick to thank the unwavering support of their families.
“My parents haven’t missed one race of mine at the Aussie titles in the last 10 years,” Trim said.
“My mum and dad, sisters and fiancee are in the boats, we’ve got Luke’s dad here and his wife and five year old daughter are at home cheering us on.”
Northcliffe’s Danielle McKenzie continued her dominance after winning in the mixed double on Thursday with another gold medal, this time with Georgia Laird in the Open Female Ski. The duo last won the title together in 2018 and on Friday were able to get the win over Bulli’s Jasmine Locke and Hannah Minogue and fellow Northcliffe teammates Mackenzie Duffy and Tokyo Olympian Jaime Roberts.
In somewhat flat conditions, it was the inspiration of coach and Dual Olympian Naomi Flood that got the pair over the line.
“Floody was always one of the best Australian paddlers, and I always came across her when I was racing for the New Zealand team,” McKenzie said.
“It’s really cool to have the support of Naomi Flood, and I think she really works hard with us to make sure we gel together - especially when it comes to something like Aussies.
“It’s been really cool to see all the girls, and all the Northcliffe teams doing really awesome.”
EARLIER: Maroochydore lifeguard Beau Farrell has come out of retirement to team up with swim sensation Matthew Palmer to claim gold in the Open Male Board Rescue final.
In front of a home crowd the duo delivered an epic performance for their home club Maroochydore, with spectators cheering them home to take the win over Charlie Brooks and Zach Morris (Newport) and Matt Bevilacqua and Matt Poole (Northcliffe).
After flat conditions dominated the morning’s program, southerly winds picked up to create a small chop and give the men a little assistance on the run home.
Earlier in the day it was another dominant Northcliffe performance by Danielle McKenzie and Georgia Laird, who once again teamed up in the Open Female Double Ski to claim the gold medal for the second time in that event.
Bulli’s Jasmine Locke and Hannah Minogue took home the silver with Northcliffe’s Mackenzie Duffy and Olympic recruit Jamie Roberts rounding out the podium with a bronze medal.
Tomorrow’s action kicks off for the Opens Competition from 9:30am with blue ribbon Ironwoman and Ironman from 12pm.
Nutri-Grain Ironman Champion Ali Day (Surfers Paradise) will headline the Ironman final as eyes off his first Australian Ironman crown. He’ll face off against former Nutri-Grain Ironman Champions Matt Bevilaqua (BMD Northcliffe) and Matt Poole (BMD Northcliffe). All three are names in their own right but will be chasing their own slice of history as they eye off their first Australian Ironman title.
Defending Ironwoman Champion Georgia MIller (BMD Northcliffe) cruised through to the final, alongisde former Australian Ironwoman Champions Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland), Courtney Hancock (Surfers Paradise) and leading NSW Ironwoman Lizzie Wellborn.
IRONMAN FINAL START LIST
1. Wes Gould (Kurrawa); Matt Bevilacqua (BMD Northcliffe); 3. Jay Furniss (Cronulla); 4. Ali Day (Surfers Paradise); 5. Ben Carberry (Currumbin); 6. Cooper Williams (Alexandra Headland); 7. Hayden Cotter (Maroochydore); 8.Ky Kinsela (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 9. Jackson Borg (Newport); 10. Matt Poole (BMD Northcliffe); 11. Nathan Gray (Surfers Paradise); 12. Corey Fletcher (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 13. Max Beattie (Surfers Paradise); 14. Hayden White (Currumbin); 15. Daniel Barron (Mermaid Beach); 16. Jackson Maynard (Currumbin).
IRONWOMAN FINAL START LIST
1. Lizzie Welborn (Newport); 2. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore); 3. Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland); 4. Georgia Miller (BMD Northcliffe); 5. Jemma Smith (Newport); 6. Danielle McKenzie (BMD Northcliffe); 7. Courtney Hancock (Surfers Paradise); 8. Electra Outram (Noosa Heads); 9. Emily Doyle (Newport); 10. Tara Coleman (Maroubra); 11. Brielle Cooper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 12. Britney Pierce (Wanda); 13. Naomi Scott (Manly); 14. Madison Spencer (Newport); 15. Carla Papac (Wanda); 16. Lily Cracknell (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park).
EARLIER: OPEN Aussies day four has arrived and with it, a host of Coast athletes vying for gold.
The best in the business will hit the beach at the Sunshine Coast for the heats in the morning, before the finals begin at 12pm.
Follow all the action on the livestream from 12pm.
Events not to miss:
-Open and U19 Male Board Rescue
-U17 Male and Female Belt Races
-U17 Male and Female Taplin Relays
-Open and U19 Female Belt Races
-Open and U19 Male and Female Double Skis
-Lifesaver Relay
-U17, U19 and Open Male and Female Beach Flags
-Opens and U23 Boats Male and Female
-Opens Rescue & Resuscitation
OPENS DAY 3: IT’S day three of Open racing at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and we are ready to bring you all the latest results.
BMD Northcliffe’s Jackson Symonds has become the first man in the history of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships to claim five straight Open Male Beach Sprint titles.
Symonds’ first place saw him add to his ever growing Aussie titles, now totalling six.
“Obviously it’s a good feeling to do something that no one has ever done before,” Symonds said.
“My goal was just to make it to Aussies, and to put my best race together and I was able to do that,” he said.
With last year’s Aussies cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020/21 Championships is Symonds first time donning the maroon star.
“My first Aussies for Northcliffe is going really well - it was really cool that all the boys rocked up on the team bus to come and watch me in the final,” Symonds said.
“It was the first time I’ve ever raced under lights, so it was a bit of a different experience but there was a big crowd and it was great to see my Northcliffe team mates there,” he said.
Although he’s racing for a Gold Coast club now, Sorrento in Western Australia will always be home for Symonds.
“Sorrento will always have a special part of who I am and my success in the sport,” Symonds said.
“It’s great that now even though I’m racing for Northcliffe, I still get to train and coach at Sorrento.
“I’m unsure of what the off season will bring now, maybe a sneaky come back onto the footy field in WA,” he said.
As a champion in his own right, Symonds said it was great to see so many athletes pushing through in the U17 and U19 age groups.
“It was so great to see Sam Zustovich from Mollymook racing so well, he dominated the field and got a good five metres in front of everyone,” Symonds said.
“Sophie Watts from City of Perth is a quality runner so it was pretty good that she got the win.
“It was her first time being on the podium which was pretty cool to see and almost a changing of the guard from when Bree (Masters) won it last time,” he said.
BMD Northcliffe currently leads the overall point score.
EARLIER: Host Club Maroochydore have delivered a crowd pleasing performance capping off the day with a gold medal in the prestigious Open Belt Race courtesy of a sensational swim by Hayden Cotter.
Already qualified through to blue-ribbon Aussies Ironman final, Cotter’s open water skills were on display with flat surf seeing him blitz the field to take home the gold medal ahead of Northcliffe (B) and Alexandra Headland (A).
The Mixed Double Ski was a family affair today, with six father/daughter duos teaming up for both Club and family honours. Among those were legendary Ironman Darren Mercer and his Ironwoman daughter Jordie Mercer (see interview below).
The Mixed Double Ski final was the return of the ‘Macs’ with Northcliffe’s Mackenzie Hynard and Danielle McKenzie powering home to take the gold medal ahead of Newport’s Jemma Smith and Mitchell Trim and North Bondi’s Brianna Massie and Jackson Collins.
Earlier in the day it was Gold Coast Open Women’s Georgia Miller and Maddy Dunn (Northcliffe) who took home the title ahead of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park and Maroochydore.
Local Sunshine Coast stars from Alexandra Headland, Tayla Halliday and Emma Wood, teamed up to take gold in the U19 Female Board Rescue ahead of Manly and Swansea Belmont.
EARLIER: Women have demonstrated just how rescue ready they are with the final of the prestigious Board Rescue held today.
In the Open Women’s it was Gold Coast’s Georgia Miller and Maddy Dunn (Northcliffe) who took home the title ahead of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park and Maroochydore.
Local Sunshine Coast stars from Alexandra Headland, Tayla Halliday and Emma Dick, teamed up to take gold in the U19 Female Board Rescue ahead of Manly and Swansea Belmont.
EARLIER: Northcliffe’s Lucy Derbyshire, Sara Tazaki, Bailey Day, Ashleigh Allred have won the under-19 female surf teams event while Tazaki has also taken out the under-19 female surf race.
Clubmate Ella Mmore was crowned the under-17 female champion lifesave this morning.
Kurrawa sprint queen Tahli Devine won the under-17 female beach sprint while Gold Coast teams have made it into the final of the open mixed relay.
Currumbin’s Hayden White, Jackson Maynard, Ben Carberry, Tahlia Sunderland, Kelissa Brockett, Lisa Moseley, Sascha O’Keeffe, Joel Jackson, Matthew Wildman and Northcliffe’s Auden Parish, Sam Norton, Bailey Armstrong, Asher Ward, Rachel Clayphan, Jennifer Davis, Shannon Grimsey, Penelope Hamilton, Damien Clayphan will all feature in the grand final.
Northcliffe representative Caityln Miller won the under-19 female champion lifesaver title.
AFTER finishing fourth in the 2021 Nutri-Grain Ironman Series, Matt Bevilacqua is out for redemption as he secures his spot in Saturday’s Australian Surf Life Saving Ironman final.
Finishing second in his semi final, Bevilacqua sights are now set on his maiden Aussie Ironman crown, but it’s not going to come easy.
“That semi was really tough - we’ve lost a bit of the swell so it was a bit of a hard slog. I think it will be much the same on Saturday so it’s going to be a really hard race,” Bevilacqua said.
“Everyone’s a chance, everyone’s swimming really well and the depth in the field at the moment is red hot.
“There’s four titles that I’m after - World Championship title, Coolangatta Gold, Nutri-Grain and this one (Australian Ironman).
“I haven’t got this one so far - it’s something that I definitely want to before the end of my career and hopefully I can get it done on Saturday,” he said.
When Bevilacqua steps onto the start line on Saturday he’ll be surrounded by some familiar faces, with fellow Nutri-Grain IronMen Ali Day (Surfers Paradise), Matt Poole (Northcliffe), Wes Gould (Kurrawa) and Jackson Borg (Newport) all finishing well in their semi finals.
But some new faces, that didn’t appear in the Series, are not to be underestimated says Bevilaccqua.
“We’ve got Hayden Cotter who’s a world standard swimmer, and the swim is the first leg so he’s straight into it and he’s not even in the Series!” Bevilacqua said.
“It just shows the depth we’ve got and there will be 16 of the best guys in Australia on the line this Saturday,” he said.
Bevilacqua is also hoping to qualify his Northcliffe team for the Open Male Taplin Relay, an event which he holds in high regard.
“It’s incredibly special - the six person Taplin, there’s not a feeling like it. I’m with Northcliffe Surf Club now and it’s a fantastic club,” Bevilacqua said.
“It’s the most successful club ever and now I’m in their A Taplin team.
“I’ve got a big load to shoulder, and I’m looking forward to taking that on and hopefully win a gold medal on Saturday afternoon,” he said.
16 will line up for the Australian Ironman final on Saturday, followed by the Open Taplin Relay finals that will be shown live 12-2pm AEST on Ch9 GO!
START LIST: Wes Gould (Kurrawa), Matt Bevilacqua (BMD Northcliffe), Jay Furniss (Cronulla), Ali Day (Surfers Paradise), Ben Carberry (Currumbin), Cooper Williams (Alexandra Headland), Hayden Cotter (Maroochydore), Ky Kinsela (Burleigh Heads), Jackson Borg (Newport), Matt Poole (BMD Northcliffe), Nathan Gray (Surfers Paradise), Corey Fletcher (Burleigh Heads), Max Beattie (Surfers Paradise), Hayden White (Currumbin), Daniel Barron (Mermaid Beach), Jackson Maynard (Currumbin)
Northcliffe’s Cyra Bender has won the under-15 female ironperson title on the second day of the open Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
Clubmates Elias Richards, Ryley Harland, Nathan Selvey, Griffin Lynch have also placed second in the under-15 male cameron relay while Milla Jansen, Milly Derbyshire, Bender finished second in teh under-15 female board relay.
Events not to miss:
Open and U19 Female and Male Ski Relay
Open and U19 Female and Male Surf Teams
U17 Female and Male Board Relay
U17 Female and Male Board Relay
Masters Board Riding Short Board and Malibu
Short Course Boats Male and Female
EARLIER:
Olympic kayakers Riley Fitzsimmons and Lachlan Tame were among the stars on the beach for the opening day of Open competition at Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Already selected for the Tokyo Olympic Games in just under 100 days, Fitzsimmons and Tame teamed up with Peter Mitchell to successfully defend their Open Ski Relay title for the Avoca Beach SLSC, claiming one of the first gold medals on offer. They were able to take the gold ahead Northcliffe SLSC (Qld) and Newport (NSW).
Fitzsimmons was tagged for the final leg sitting in third position, but managed to ski his side back into top spot as he rounded the final can.
“We’ve been with the Avoca club since we were four or five years old and we’ve stuck through and through. So it’s awesome to put the team together to come away with the gold after the year we’ve had,” he said.
“Next up, we’ll be lining up in the K2 1000m and K4 500m at the (Paddle Australian) Canoe Sprint Championships - it’s going to be our last opportunity to really practice and perform before we go over to Tokyo. So a lot of preparation is going to go into that racing at Nationals, really practicing those one percenters on and off the water.”
The Open Men’s Ski Relay final was a star studded Olympic field, Fitzsimmons and Tame lined up alongside fellow Olympians including Australian Olympic Team Deputy Chef de Mission and triple Olympian Ken Wallace (Tugun SLSC) as well as 1996 Olympic kayaker Jim Walker (North Bondi SLSC).
Fitzsimmons’ partner and Nutri-Grain IronWoman Georgia Miller also enjoyed the first day of competition, teaming up with fellow Ironwoman Hannah Sculley and BMD Northcliffe team mate Mackenzie Duffy to take out the Female Open Ski Relay.
Miller earlier in the day cruised through the Open Ironwoman heats, looking to defend her Australian Ironwoman crown.
“It’s incredible to be here, we’re all so happy that we’re finally on the beach - it’s been two years now so we’ve been at the Aussies and I’m so excited,” Miller said.
“We started this morning with an Ironwoman, so to get into it straight away is awesome. And then I’ve finished the day with two gold medals in the ski relay and surf teams - you can’t get much better than Aussies gold.
“Hopefully now I can keep the momentum going as we head into the heats and finals in the days to come.”
Competition resumes on Wednesday.
EARLIER: WITH a smile and high five as he hit the beach, Joe Collins embraced the thrill of a dominant Aussies gold medal-winning performance at Maroochydore on Tuesday.
Collins capped a dominant performance from the Northcliffe team of he, Beau Meehan and Kaan Karadag to win the U19 Male Single Ski Relay final.
Earlier, the stacked Northcliffe team of Georgia Miller, Hannah Sculley and Mackenzie Duffy put in a similarly dominant performance to win the Open Female Single Ski Relay.
EARLIER: CHAMPION Surfers Paradise ironman Ali Day will begin his quest for the one title that has so far eluded him in his illustrious career - an Aussies Ironman gold.
Day joins a stacked field of the best surf life saving athletes in Australia for the first day of the Open Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from the Sunshine Coast.
Before the senior irons finals on Saturday, there is still a plethora of top-tier action to enjoy.
What to watch on Tuesday:
-Open and U19 Female and Male Ski Relay
-Open and U19 Female and Male Surf Teams
-U17 Female and Male Board Relay
-U17 Female and Male Board Relay
-Masters Board Riding Short Board and Malibu
-Short Course Boats Male and Female
DAY 4: It was a gold rush for the legends of surf sports on the second and final day of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships Masters competition.
With the individual events won and done, Monday’s focus was on the team events - the ultimate day for any clubbie.
Former Ironwoman champions Kirsty Holmes and Kristy Munroe from Alexandra Headlands helped spur on a great day on the beach for their club, teaming up for the first time in years to take out the 35-39 yrs Double Ski.
“It’s always a bit of fun, we don’t do a lot of training for this, it’s more of just a get together. We’re here to support Alex, and the girls in the team so it’s good,” said Holmes.
“Kristy (Munroe) and I haven’t been on the double ski for five years, so we just get on it and go.
“It’s been a great atmosphere, I was down here watching the youth and a few of the kids down here, and I think they were all excited to be involved, because it would’ve been their first Aussies. So it’s always a good atmosphere and tomorrow it will heat up again.”
Fellow Alexandra Headlands teammates, legendary Grant Kenny, brother Martin Kenny and Jeffrey Lemarseny teamed up in the Ski Relay to claim the gold.
Martin Kenny said it was great to be back on their home stretch of beach with their family and friends around.
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“We’ve got a good little group, particularly in the Masters you’ve got a mix of newer faces and people who’ve been around for a while, which is good because everyone sort of helps each other out,” he said.
“We knew GK (Grant Kenny) doing the anchor, he’s a smart racer, he’s been around a long time. Particularly the runs coming home, he’s won the best that’s ever been on the bumps, so we were pretty confident he’d be able to be there.”
Bonnie-Anne Palmer (nee Hancock) from Kurrawa picked up her seventh gold, and 10th medal of the Aussies, after dominating the Ironwoman, Single Ski, Surf Race, Board Rescue, Double Ski, Ski Relay, Taplin Relay and 2km Ocean Swim.
“It’s all about the team at the end of the day, we started off with the ski relay and taplin relay this morning which is always so much fun, and two events which I think really show the depth of the club,” she said.
“It’s so fabulous to see so many familiar faces - Tiarne (Smith), Lee (Vrolyks), Kirsty Holmes and Kristy Munroe. I grew up watching all those girls on television with my sister (Courtney Hancock) and they’re still idols in my eyes, and it’s fantastic to be racing next to them now.
“I’m so proud of my teammates, we’re just stoked to be up there getting good points for the club, it was good competition so we’re stoked to get the win.”
The Aussies continues tomorrow with Opens competition, kicking off the program with the Open Ironman and Ironwoman heats.
EARLIER: IT IS time for the teams to shine as the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships continue into Day 4 at the Sunshine Coast.
Household names of yesteryear battled it out on the beaches at Mooloolaba and Maroochydore on Sunday and return on Monday with more silverware to be had.
Events not to miss:
-Masters Ski Relay
-Masters Surf Teams
-Masters Taplin Relay
-Masters Board Relay
-Masters Double Ski
-Masters Flags
-Masters 2KM and 1KM Beach Run
-Open and Youth Board Riding at Coolum Beach
FROM DAY 3: IRONMAN legend Darren Mercer was among the stars headlining the opening day of the Masters competition at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
After two days of youth events, the Aussies now moved into the masters competition for surf lifesavers aged 30-plus with the oldest competitor, William Ryan of Coolangatta SLSC, mixing with the best at the ripe age of 86.
Mercer jagged a silver medal in the 50-54yo Men’s Board Race, as he also prepares to line up in the Open events later this week with daughter Jordie Mercer in the Mixed Double Ski race.
Mercer was in good company with fellow Iron legends Grant Kenny and Kristy Munroe from Alexandra Headlands going around the cans - Kenny taking gold in the Board Rescue and Munroe bronze in the ski.
1996 Olympic kayaker Jim Walker (North Bondi) won the 45-49yo Open Men’s Ski.
More than 6000 competitors will take part in the Aussies over the nine days.
EARLIER: WITH the Aussies Youth championships now in the books, attention turns to the Masters when action resumes on Day 3 of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from the Sunshine Coast.
Events to watch on Day 3
-Masters Board
-Masters Surf Race
-Masters Single Ski
-Masters Iron person
-Masters Board Rescue
-Masters Beach Sprints
-Masters Beach Relays
FROM DAY 2: NEW South Wales clubs dominated Day 2 of the Aussies, winning six of the eight gold medals on offer in the water arenas.
But Saturday was not without success for Gold Coast athletes, with Northcliff claiming dual-gold medals in the Surf Teams events.
Backing up from her Swimming Australia Age Nationals appearance, Milla Jansen teamed with clubmates Cyra Bender, Emma McDonald and Caitlin Allred to take home gold.
In the U14 Female Flags, Tweed Heads Coolangatta’s Lily Alford won gold in a thrilling final do-over against Keira Vincent from Wanda.
EARLIER: DAY 2 of the Australian Surf Life Saving championships is under way from the Sunshine Coast.
Follow all the action at the livestream below.
Events to watch on Day 2
-Youth Male and Female Beach Flags
-Youth Male and Female Board Rescue
-Youth Male and Female Board Relay
-Youth Male and Female Cameron Relay
-Youth Male and Female Surf Teams
FROM DAY 1: ALEX Walker has completed a stunning triple crown triumph on Day 1 of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Maroochydore.
The Cooks Hill athlete blitzed the field to win the U14 Ironman final on Friday afternoon, capping a perfect day for the young New South Welshman after earlier claiming gold in the Surf Race and Board Race finals.
At the conclusion of the first wave of Youth finals on Day 1, three Gold Coast athletes separated themselves from the pack to become national champions.
It started with Burleigh Heads Mowbary Park’s Jayda Kempton, who won the final of the U15 Female Surf Race.
Tugun’s Allie Hughes was next to salute of the Coast, winning the U14 Female Board Race, before Cyra Bender of Northcliff produced a stunning effort to claim gold in the U15 Ironwoman.
EARLIER: JAYDA Kempton is the first Gold Coast athlete to claim gold at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
The Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park athlete pipped rivals to win the final of the U15 Female Surf Race on Friday afternoon.
In the U15 Male Surf Race it was Newport’s Conner Maggs who crossed the line first.
The Board Race finals began with Allie Hughes of Tugun winning the U14 Female final, before Cooks Hill’s Alex Walker doubled up from his Surf Race win earlier to claim the U14 Male final.
Swansea Belmont athlete Zara Foran rode a late wave to victory in the U15 Female Board Race final, before Taj Andrews of Tannum Sands did the same for the U15 Male final.
EARLIER: SKY Hackshall of MacMasters Beach is the first champion crowned at the 2021 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Hackshall bested the field in the U14 Female Surf Race final on Day 1 of the championships on the Sunshine Coast.
Cooks Hill athlete Alex Walker subsequently topped the podium in the U14 Male Surf Race final.
EARLIER: THERE has been a delay to the start of the livestream from the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
The livestream was originally to begin at 12pm, coinciding with the start of the Youth finals, however has since been pushed back as organisers continue to push through the heats on Day 1.
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EARLIER: FINALS of the Youth Ironman and Ironwoman events are inching closer on Day 1 of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast.
The cream of the Gold Coast’s surfe life saving crop are in action all week, beginning today with the Youth finals at Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
The finals of the Sprints, Beach Relay, Surf Race, Board Race, Ironwoman and Ironman events will run this afternoon, beginning midday.
Watch all the action live at the link below, and return to this story throughout the day for up to date results.
EARLIER: The ‘Aussies’ are under way.
Stay tuned for all the latest results from the Youth Sprints, Beach Relay, Surf Race, Board Race, Ironwoman and Ironman events.
The action will heat up from 12pm, when the Youth finals begin at Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
Check back just after midday for rolling coverage from the following events:
- Youth Sprints Finals
- Youth Beach Relay Finals
- Youth Surf Race Finals
- Youth Board Race Finals
- Youth Ironwoman Finals
- Youth Ironman Finals
Potential ‘greatest ever’ headlines Coast’s Aussies push
SIMON Harris was 15 when he competed at his first Aussies – now he’s ushering through the next generation of beach flags competitors with Surfers Paradise’s Jett Milford-Ferguson showing all the markings of a future champion.
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In his heyday, there was no one greater than Harris when it came to the beach flags at the national titles.
Keep up to date with all the latest results and photos from the Aussies right here.
Known for his fiery, competitive nature, Harris dominated the Aussies beach flags for close to two decades, winning more gold medals in his pet event then anyone else before him.
But now he’ll be on the sidelines while he watches his protege Milford-Ferguson, 15, walk in his shoes.
The rising star is set to line up at his first Australian surf lifesaving youth championships which kick off on Friday on the Sunshine Coast.
Mooloolaba Beach will host to the beach events, the exact beach where Harris won his 11th Australian beach flags title in 2016.
“I retired at Mooloolaba in 2016 and there were so many people there watching – the elevation and amphitheatre makes a great spectacle for the beach events,” Harris said.
“It was probably my favourite Aussies win. Jett’s really going to love the atmosphere and I’m looking forward to seeing him race.
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“He’s probably the best I’ve seen and could be the best ever if he puts his mind to it.”
For Milford-Ferguson, the prestige of the Aussies is something he’s looking forward to being part of.
“Aussies is what everyone talks about; it’s the top event for our sport and I think it’s really special because everyone from around Australia comes together to try to achieve one common goal – an Australian title,” Milford-Ferguson said.
“I’ve always said that if you can believe it, you can win it – you’ve got to have some confidence in yourself,” he said.
Hailing from the Surfers Paradise club, Milford-Ferguson understands the surf sports icons he is surrounded by day in and day out.
“I’m so privileged to have Simon as a coach; he’s arguably the greatest of all time in beach flags and has won multiple national and international titles,” he said.
“But there’s also some other legends around our club like Trevor Hendy, Ali Day and Courtney Hancock.
“I’d love to be one of them one day and to be known as a club legend.
“To be surrounded by greatness every day is such a privilege and one that I’m always grateful for.”
The Australian surf lifesaving championships will run until April 24.
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GOLD COAST ATHLETES IN THE AUSSIES (YOUTH):
Name - Club - Age division
Emily Bear, Kurrawa, 13
Luka Leonardi, North Burleigh, 13
Sasha Mcdonald, North Burleigh, 13
Tasma Foster, Southport (Qld), 13
Allie Hughes, Tugun1, 3
Jem Nolan Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
MJ Lowe, Northcliffe, 14
Michael Zaboy, Northcliffe, 14
Archie Fenton, Southport (Qld), 14
Joel Crane, Tallebudgera, 14
Jake French, Tugun, 14
Ziah Peisker, Tugun, 14
Will Price, Tugun, 14
Rory Randall, Tugun, 14
Charlotte Hart, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Jayda Kempton, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Chelsea Wood, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Annabelle Bear, Kurrawa, 14
Jasmine Rayward, North Burleigh, 14
Emma McDonald, Northcliffe, 14
Magdalena Kolarich, Southport (Qld), 14
Jada Hollis, Tallebudgera, 14
Hendrik Coulam, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
CooperHarrisonBurleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
Zain Bartlett, Mermaid Beach, 13
Jai Murray, North Burleigh, 13
Riley Rasmussen, North Burleigh, 13
Jordy Yanagita, North Burleigh, 13
Leo Johnston, Northcliff, 13
Ethan Phelan, Northcliffe, 13
Matthew Kalogeropoulos, Southport (Qld), 13
Cash Krywenko, Southport (Qld), 13
Kai Colless, Tugun, 13
Dillon Howell, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
Noah Thomas, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
Matthew Fletcher, Mermaid Beach, 13
Jaiden Marshall, North Burleigh, 13
Kaden Robinson, North Burleigh, 13
Kalani Creech, Northcliffe, 13
Brodey Kneen, Northcliffe, 13
Griffin Lynch, Northcliffe, 13
Ethan McAnulty, Northcliffe, 13
Noah Middleton, Northcliffe, 13
Elias Richards, Northcliffe, 13
Rowan Toon, Northcliffe, 13
Benjamin Cervenak, Tallebudgera, 13
Will Norling, Tallebudgera, 13
Connor Davidson, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 13
Oliver Dillon, Tugun, 13
Genevieve Hogben, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Sienna Jones, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Kaela McAtamney, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Savannah Murdocca, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Aleira Usher, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Kate Roder, Kurrawa, 14
Tara Newton, North Burleigh, 14
GraceWhimpey, North Burleigh, 14
Caitlin Allred, Northcliffe, 14
Cyra Bender, Northcliffe, 14
Kaia Sugars, Northcliffe, 14
Freya Brown, Southport (Qld), 14
Grace Champion, Southport (Qld), 14
Maddison Clark, Tallebudgera, 14
Allana Glowaski, Tallebudgera, 14
Alana Picton, Tallebudgera, 14
Lily McClure, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 14
Harrison Broue, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Fraser Leadbetter, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Taj Payne, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park 14
Riley Brennan, Currumbin, 14
Jay Hyland, Currumbin, 14
Beau Lester-Sutherland, Currumbin, 14
Tai Smith, Currumbin, 14
Ryan Wildman, Currumbin, 14
Herb Winter, Currumbin, 14
Rory Mercer, Kurrawa, 14
Ethan Callaghan, North Burleigh, 14
Daniel Ebzery, North Burleigh, 14
Cooper Lynch, North Burleigh, 14
Ryley Harland, Northcliffe, 14
Samuel Perry, Northcliffe, 14
Ethan Wentworth, Southport (Qld), 14
Samuel Gould, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 14
Ryan Muggeridge, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 14
Archie Mulkerrins, Tugun, 14
Kai Portas, Tugun, 14
Ava Usher, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
Nina Harvey, Kurrawa, 13
Summer Simons, Kurrawa, 13
Zahara Timu-Te Ture, Kurrawa, 13
Mikayla Bird, North Burleigh, 13
Millar Brosnan-Ball, North Burleigh, 13
Ashlee Schafer, North Burleigh, 13
Rebecca Timmermann Keirven, North Burleigh, 13
Ava Crellin Northcliffe, 13
Milly Derbyshire, Northcliffe, 13
Milla Jansen, Northcliffe, 13
Aveline Rounsley, Northcliffe, 13
Eliza Bethe, Southport (Qld), 13
Sarah Clarke, Southport (Qld), 13
Amelia Kilmartin, Southport (Qld), 13
Abbey Carter, Tallebudgera, 13
Lilli Hodge, Tugun, 13
Kawani Aboody, North Burleigh, 14
Charlie Kett, Northcliffe, 13
Nathan Selvey, Northcliffe,13
Jake Stanborough, Rainbow Bay, 13
Samson Taylor Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 14
Barlow Telford, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 13
Lily Alford, Tweed Heads Coolangatta 13
Amy Cronk, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 13
Caillie Eriksen, Tweed Heads Coolangatta, 13
Jett Milford-Ferguson, Surfers Paradise, 14
Nyalli Milne, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 14
Britney Ingr, Currumbin, 14
Zara Richters, Northcliffe, 14
Zak McCabe, Currumbin, 14
Leila Modlich, Southport (Qld), 13
Noah Parnaby, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park 14
Jada Miller, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, 13
Gold Coast Rollers QSL Youth League squad breakdowns
Check out our in-depth analysis of every player on the Gold Coast Rollers men’s and women’s QSL Youth League squads.
Gold Coast soccer club responds to police gambling probe
A Gold Coast soccer club has spoken out amid a police probe into allegations one of their players was approached by a Chinese company’s representatives to help manipulate a state premier league match.