Australian surf life saving: Masters winners, grinners, top results and photos at Aussies 2024
It’s a haul so incredible it’s hard to believe. But this surf life saver has to be one of our most prolific Australian champions - in any sport. Masters day one winners, grinners.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s a haul so incredible it’s hard to believe. But this surf life saver has to be one of our most prolific Australian champions - in any sport.
The Masters competition kicked off on day three of the Australian surf life saving championships on the Sunshine Coast and one of it’s leading competitors was back doing what he does best - win races.
Super-fit Paul Lemmon has now won around 120 Australian titles - so many even this modest Masters gun can’t quite remember the exact number.
The Terrigal star kicked of his 2024 campaign with success in his first final, winning 55-59 surf race with his win over Darrin Jones from Bondi and Kurrawa’s Craig Chapman.
He then added the ironman and board races to his Australian titles tally in Masters despite being unsure if he would even compete after bout of Covid earlier this year.
“I just enjoy the competition, challenging yourself and you can never tell what the conditions are going to be like, it can be dead flat, it can be a bit of a wave, it can be massive,’’ Lemmon said.
“It’s about challenging yourself and you have to realise surf sports is a very character building sport because you’re going to lose more times than you win.
“I think it is fantastic for the youth to get used to that as they get older because that’s what they come up against in real life. And to me, that’s what it’s about and we do it a lot more as we get older as well.
“I think Masters is an essential part of competition particularly in surf life saving because it is us older people that have the life skills to patrol the beach and we can get the younger ones to go out and do the rescues if needed. But we have to keep fit as well so Masters is so important.’’
While Gold Coaster Ali Day will be one of the stars of the show at the open championships starting Wednesday, it was his brother Blair who grabbed a share of the limelight on Monday.
Day, who is the older brother of the legendary surf competitor and favourite to win his fourth Australian ironman title this weekend, actually won his first at Maroochydore in the Masters.
While his brother has moved to the Gold Coast, Blair Day now lives in Kiama and competes for Warilla Barrack Point, winning gold in the 35-39 years surf swim for the club.
“That’s my first gold medal actually, I don’t think I have ever made an Aussie open final,’’ he said.
While retired footballer Ashton Sims is well remembered by St George and Brisbane fans from his heydays in the NRL, it is his wife now performing with success in the sporting arena.
Nicole Sims, competing for the Warilla Barrack Point club, blasted to victory in the 40-44 board, swim and iron and won silver in the ski.
“I had two children race at youth and they went really well. My son made all the finals and won a gold in the swim team. And my daughter made a swim final and some team finals,’’ she said.
“We love the community. And that is inclusive of all ages. There’s no limit to when you have to stop or start,” she said.
Don Marsh came all the way from Tasmania to compete and made sure the trip was warranted on the opening day of Masters.
The Carlton Park competitor picked up two medals on day one of the comp for the more mature members of the surf movement.
March won bronze in the 70-74 ironman race and then added a silver in the surf swim.
In a big day out he then finished 10th in the ski and eight in the board.
“There’s people here probably 70 and I know there were a couple of guys in their 80s so it’s fantastic to see. I hope we’re hanging around still competing,’’ he said.
Competition continues on Tuesday.
More Coverage
Originally published as Australian surf life saving: Masters winners, grinners, top results and photos at Aussies 2024
‘Heartbroken’: Body of Selwood brother found
The family of former AFL player and coach Troy Selwood has announced the tragic news the former Brisbane Lions star has died.
Star’s plea for more after award glory
After being crowned the best player in the country days after making history at the MCG, Annabel Sutherland says her all-conquering Australian team deserves more respect.