Red Beach women win all three age divisions at Surf Boat Spectacular

Red Beach’s female rowers were to the fore at the recent Whangamata Surf Boat Spectacular. Three club crews came out on top after Round 2 of the NZ Surf Boat Series, winning the open women’s, U23 and U19 age divisions. It’s the first time a result of this nature has been achieved in the series.

A total of 56 crews from around the country took part. Eight Red Beach crews rowed in the event - four men’s and four women’s crews - underlining the growth of surf boat rowing within the club.

The Red Beach Sirens on their way to winning the open women's final.

In the open women’s division, the Red Beach Sirens were one of 12 crews to battle it out in the one metre surf. The crew of Zita Talaic-Burgess, Ashleigh Jenkins, Kelly Andrew, Madison Smith and sweep Shane ‘Bugsy’ O’Halloran won the second of two semi-finals, then charged on for a comfortable win in the final in the club's new South Coast boat.

Having won the first round of the series at Lyall Bay in late-November,  the Sirens are an odds-on bet to be named as the NZ representative women’s crew for the Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge at Waihi Beach on 7th February. A Tugun women’s crew will race for Australia in the event.

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The Red Beach Giggles crew came out on top after their five-race series in the U23 division.

In the U23 women’s division, after a series of five races, the Red Beach Giggles fought off five other crews for the overall points win. The crew of Jaime Busby, Kelly Dillon, Jasmin Cornish and Rebecca Ash showed their greatly improved form by notching up three heat wins and two fourth placings to come out on top.

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The Blakey's Angels crew, from left: Jasmin Cornish, Georgia Cox, Briana Smith, Craig Dillon (sweep) and Tyler McDowall.

In the U19 women’s division, Blakey’s Angels continued their good showing to head off an all-Auckland line-up of five crews to take the overall points win. The crew of Georgia Cox, Tyler McDowall, Jessica Cornish and Briana Smith achieved two wins and three second placings across their five races.
Red Beach boat captain Craig Dillon swept both the Giggles and Blakey’s Angels.

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Rhye Jacka of the Red Beach Pirates crew makes a leap to sprint for the finish line. The crew placed third overall in the U23 men's division.

In the men’s divisions, the Red Beach Pirates finished third overall in the U23’s whilst the Doom Squad placed fourth on overall points in the U19’s.
Round 3 of the NZ Surf Boat Series takes place at Waihi Beach on 7th February.

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The Red Beach Doom Squad crew crashes over a wave while racing in the U19 men's division.
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The Red Beach Cab Savs crew rowing in the open men's division.
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The Red Beach Boomers were one of 19 crews in the open men's division.
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The Red Beach Bangers crew heads for the buoy line in the open women's division.
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The Doom Squad crew in action in the U19 men's division.                     Photos by Ross Malyon.