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Swanbourne Cup Mixed Board Rescue Results Season 2024/25

Tim Tucak

Firstly thank you to Peran Bishop and Oli Defrancesco for their assistance in the setting of the string line - their vocabulary includes 'taut', 'tension' and 'true'. Conditions meant this exercise wasn't too 'tricky', 'taxing' and 'testing'. So Pez and Oli, hoping you feel 'rewarded', 'respected' and 'revered'. Thank you to Ray Lampard, Kristie Orchard, Ben Leonard and others for helping set up the arena. Thank you also to the Nippers for the loan of the string line. Thanks also to Luke Bishop for crewing during the 'interlude' and Final. Thanks also to Pez, Ray and many others for retrieving the string line, washing everything and putting it all away.


Conditions were calm with the occasional swell. Looked great for racing and spectating. The 9 initial teams became 10 with the pairing of Kristie and Ray, switching from a straight final to two heats. Heat 1 was won by Kath and Cocky, ahead of Soph and Josh then Lucy and Rhods. Kristie and Ray took fourth and the final Final spot. Fiona and Peter had the chance to catch a wave back to shore, but the wave came out on top! Heat 2 was taken out by Annie and Ben ahead of Erin and Jules, then Valentina and Stirling. The 'Presidents' Kate and Luke took fourth spot to secure a spot in the final. The 'Amityville Horror' of Amity and Briggy did become a horror show when Briggy swum to the wrong buoy, confusing the 'Presidents' and Amity. Ahh the irony given Briggy's 'listen to the rules, we don't want to disqualify anyone' speech!


With 9 spots available in the Final, Fiona and Peter were offered the wildcard spot. They declined, opening the spot up to 'Amityville Horror' for Briggy to redeem himself and make recompense to Amity. It was approximately 10.30 am when the Teams were in position and the Starter satisfied to start. Then the Westpac Rescue Helicopter wheeled over Vera View Beach and sounded the siren. A 2 m hammerhead was sighted, the beach was closed and there was no option other than to have an hours interlude before restarting at 11.30 am. This delay was difficult for those teams with small children and weren't going to be able to spend an hour at the beach without going in the water. Thanks to Pez, Oli and Luke for their water safety during this time. When we restarted at 11.30 am, unfortunately Annie and Ben were non-starters, which gave Fiona and Peter another wildcard spot. Kudos to Rhods for the mobile phone rescue for patrol member Tarryn.


The action in the Final was split between either end - Josh and Rhods taking the swim at the north end, ahead of Jules and Kath at the south end. Cocky took the board leg, ahead of Lucy, Soph and Erin. The swell playing a part in the finish, with Lucy and Rhods handling it best to take a memorial victory. For Lucy it was a sweet victory after her many previous second and third podium places! Jules and Erin got stuck in the shorebreak to give Kath and Cocky a comfortable second. Amity finished ahead of Stirling. Fiona and Peter had the chance to catch an even bigger wave back to shore, but once again the wave came out on top!


Congratulations to Lucy 'Gunz' Gunzburg and Rhodri 'Rhods' Simmonds who are the winners of the Swanbourne Cup Mixed Board Rescue Race for 2024/25!



Lucy and Rhods - Number 1!
Lucy and Rhods - Number 1!
Lucy - First place at last!
Lucy - First place at last!
Front L - R: Erin, Kate, Kath, Briggy, Ray, Josh, Valentina, Rhods, Fiona.                                                            Back L - R: Jules, Luke, Cocky, Amity, Kristie, Soph, Stirling, Lucy, Peter, Tim (Official).
Front L - R: Erin, Kate, Kath, Briggy, Ray, Josh, Valentina, Rhods, Fiona. Back L - R: Jules, Luke, Cocky, Amity, Kristie, Soph, Stirling, Lucy, Peter, Tim (Official).
Heat 1 Start - Kath, Josh, Rhods, Fiona (obscured), Ray
Heat 1 Start - Kath, Josh, Rhods, Fiona (obscured), Ray
Heat 1 - Cocky and Kath, Lucy and Rhods, Soph and Josh, Peter paddling out, Ray and Kristie
Heat 1 - Cocky and Kath, Lucy and Rhods, Soph and Josh, Peter paddling out, Ray and Kristie
Heat 2 Start - Valentina, Briggy, Kate, Jules, Ben (obscured)
Heat 2 Start - Valentina, Briggy, Kate, Jules, Ben (obscured)
Heat 2 - Ben and Annie catching a wave.
Heat 2 - Ben and Annie catching a wave.
Heat 2 - Valentina and Stirling about to take the drop.
Heat 2 - Valentina and Stirling about to take the drop.
Heat 2 - 'Amityville Horror' - Briggy and Amity
Heat 2 - 'Amityville Horror' - Briggy and Amity
Final - The winning wave (whitewater?) - Rhods and Gunz
Final - The winning wave (whitewater?) - Rhods and Gunz
Shorebreak zone - Soph and Josh (4th, Valentina and Stirling (7th), Briggy and Amity (6th)
Shorebreak zone - Soph and Josh (4th, Valentina and Stirling (7th), Briggy and Amity (6th)
Luke and Kate in front of Briggy and Amity on the finish line. Jules in background ruing his decision to not partner with Gunz.
Luke and Kate in front of Briggy and Amity on the finish line. Jules in background ruing his decision to not partner with Gunz.
Fiona and Peter catching another wave, or, another wave catching Fiona and Peter!
Fiona and Peter catching another wave, or, another wave catching Fiona and Peter!
Final - Kristie and Ray applaud Fiona and Peter after their waves and the Shorebreak!
Final - Kristie and Ray applaud Fiona and Peter after their waves and the Shorebreak!
Swanny Youth - Josh and Soph, Stirling and Valentina.
Swanny Youth - Josh and Soph, Stirling and Valentina.

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