The Longy Vets (President Peter Kinsey, Treasurer Mal MacCormick, Dave Sams, Rob Pearson and Bruce Gaal, sweep) traveled west to Perth’s Scarborough beach to take on the challenge of the 2018 Australian Championships. Our Vets compete in the >260 years combined age category – that’s an average age of >65 years old!
Cottesloe SLSC offered us the use of one of their surf boats to save us transporting our boat all the way to WA and back, which was very much appreciated, particularly since they had 2 crews also competing in the >260s! Avalon Beach SLSC also kindly brought the Long Reef oars over, so it was a team effort just to make it to the start line!
An early start and a cool glassy morning greeted us!
Race 1 – 7 boats on the line!
Guns Up!
Go!
Longy off to a great start, flying out to sea … Mollymook in hot pursuit … Tugan looking strong, Fairhaven, Cottesloe x 2, Kurrawa …
Longy first to the turn …
Flying home …
A nice little wave … and a 1st place for Longy!
Race 2
Solid start for Longy, Mollymook looking strong … Tugan in the mix …
Longy comes home 3rd
Race 3
Longy out of the blocks well … rowing strongly …
Excellent turn
Mollymook pressing back alonside on the way home
So, so close at the finish … half a thin coat of paint in it …
Judges give ths race to Mollymook … Longy 2nd …
Time for the Final …
Pressure is on
Longy boys in a good space …
Boats on the start line …
Flags up … Guns Up! GO … geeze that was a quick start …
Longy in and away smoothly …
Long and strong … boat purring along …
First at the gate cans …
First into the turn … have a comfortable ~2 boat lengths lead …
Solid turn, might have lost a fraction …
Back in the groove, rowing powerfully …
Mollymook giving it one last push … Longy rowing strongly, perfect rhythm …
Not far now, finish it off lads …
GOLD for the Reef!
PS: We had the 3 oldest rowers at the Championships! Mal was the oldest, 74 years and 25 days, Dave the 2nd and Pete the 3rd oldest! I was the youngster who was dragging their combined age down, but the 4 rowers still had a combined age of 268 years! Not bad when u consider our young Longy rowers, Mia, Charlotte, Georgia & Tom have a combined crew age of 59 years!
PPS: Human interest story … How was your day? … Warriewood drove their boat across to Aussies…it was an interesting trip … until they had to buy a new second hand vehicle when their chariot broke down just out of Ceduna down on the Great Australian Bight … luckily this second chariot made it to Perth! (and their >200 years ladies won gold!)
Rob Pearson
Vice President – Building
buildingvp@longreef.com
(photo: Pete, Bruce, Dave, Mal & Rob, from left to right)
Recent Comments