By MARK HEENAN
OCEAN Grove SLSC head coach Sonia Kinsey says the club’s young talent are keen to improve on their performances at next year’s Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Enthusiastic Ocean Grove SLSC junior, senior and master competitors took part at the nationals held at Maroochydore Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast last month.
Kinsey said Ocean Grove SLSC’s future stars had planned to compete at more interstate carnivals next season in the lead-up to Aussie titles.
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships head back to North Kirra on the Gold Coast in 2017 from 25 March to 2 April.
“The younger ones learnt a lot and have already made plans for their on-going training to make more finals next year when it goes back to (North) Kirra,” Kinsey told the Voice.
“Racing at that level definitely makes you work harder.
“We will make sure we go to a few more interstate carnivals next season, so we can be even more prepared for The Aussies.”
Overall, Ocean Grove won two medals, including one gold and one bronze, at the 16-24 April 2016 event, which attracted more than 300 surf life saving clubs Australia wide and 7000 competitors.
Highlights included the Ocean Grove SLSC boys Under 17 Ski Relay Team, headed by Seamus Spanner, Cam Bohan and Jesse Coulson, who made the final.
Ocean Grove SLSC’s Lucy Conquit made the Under 19 female Swim and Ski finals, while Jesse Coulson competed in an individual state Under 17 Swim final.
Paul ‘Frog’ Tierney won a gold medal in the Masters 65-69 age group Male Single Ski Race.
Fellow team-mate John Vains won an individual bronze medal in the Masters 55-59 age group Male Board Race.
