Lifeguard exchange
18th November 2008
Red Beach lifeguards Karl Bogue and Ashleigh Allport have been selected to travel to Australia next month as part of the lifeguard exchange arrangement which the Red Beach club has with Sydney's Collaroy Surf Club.
The exchange has been running since 1995 and the duo will spend two weeks with sister-club Collaroy during December.
The visit provides the opportunity for the Red Beach guards to train and socialise with their Australian counterparts, to patrol a popular north Sydney surf beach and to compete in one of NSW’s premier surf carnivals at Cronulla.
The Collaroy club will reciprocate by sending two of their lifeguard members to New Zealand in January.
Carnival at Muriwai
18th November 2008
Muriwai is the venue for the first full-day carnival on the surf sports programme for 2008-09. The event on Sunday 23rd November is again of key importance for surf athletes wanting to be selected for the Auckland Lion Foundation Surf League team.
The programme, which may vary according to surf conditions, will feature the following events: Surf Race, Board, Ski Relay, Double Ski, Taplin, Board Relay, Ski and Ironman. When the tide drops, Beach Sprints, Relays and Beach Flags will be held. Racing for surf boats and surf canoes will also take place at Muriwai.
The team managers’ briefing is at 8.30 am with the first event scheduled for 9.00 am.
Note: Omaha is the alternative venue should surf conditions force a switch. A final decision will be made on the Thursday afternoon prior to the carnival.
A board race gets under way at a surf carnival at Muriwai last summer.
National Jandal Day
18th November 2008
National Jandal Day, Surf Life Saving’s annual appeal day, will take place on Friday 5th December.
It’s the day on which New Zealanders will be urged to wear their Jandals to help raise funds for the country’s lifeguards. And it provides the Red Beach Surf Club with the opportunity to raise vital funds for the training of lifeguards, the purchase of equipment and the everyday running costs.
Surf lifesaving street collectors will be out in force nationwide at all major transport hubs, central city locations, supermarkets and shopping malls.
Because every dollar raised on the day goes straight back to the clubs, we are seeking the help of club members and supporters to collect. If you can assist, please contact the club’s administration officer Debra Cairns at info@redbeachslsc.com
To learn more about National Jandal Day, click here.
The big pour ...
18th November 2008
Photo series # 8 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Thursday 13 November.
The finishing touches are applied to the boxing for the beams prior to the concrete pour.
Concrete being pumped into a wall outside the enlarged ablution area.
The filling of the support beam nearest the beachfront.
Steve Golder inserts steel reinforcing rods into the wet cement.
Phil George directs the flow of wet cement while Craig Dillon follows up with the concrete vibrator.
Completing the concrete pour during the late-afternoon. After three hours of work, more than 18 tonnes of wet cement had been poured into the boxing.
The construction of the deck at the clubrooms is well on the way towards completion.
Surf boat course
18th November 2008
Red Beach was the venue for a surf boat course held recently for sweeps and rowers.
Sponsored by Heron Plumbing and with assistance from Surf Life Saving NZ, the course provided boaties with an insight into the finer points of sweeping and rowing surf boats.
The keynote speaker was Kim Marsh, author of "The Surf Boat Book" who flew in from Australia to talk on the upskilling of crews to meet the challenges of testing surf conditions.
Also over from Australia was Jack Patison who has swept his Austinmer crews to numerous national titles along with wins in the Ocean Thunder series.
Jack Patison, right, from Austinmer SLSC prepares to sweep the Red Beach Red Necks crew.
Kim Marsh (left), author of ‘The Surf Boat Book’ with Red Beach sweep Craig Dillon and Waihi surf boat sweep Danny Harris.
Boat crews made good use of the surf whipped up by a north easterly wind.
A kite surfer at Red Beach revels in the the wind and the surf.
Orewa twilight event
18th November 2008
We bring you our photo essay on the first twilight carnival for the 2008-09 season, held at Orewa on Wednesday 12th November.
The final of the U-16 men's beach sprint at the twilight carnival.
The open men's surf canoe crew of Joshua Cholmondeley-Smith, Simon Mittermeier, Karl Bogue & Chris Moors.
Red Beach's Georgia Lloyd won the combined U-16 & U-19 women's surf race.
Kellin Downey (left) took out the U16 men's beach flags event.
In the cool of the evening, William Lloyd put in a powerful paddle to win the U19 men's ski race.
Caitlin Ryan finishing in the U19 women's ski race.
Flashbacks …
18th November 2008
Series 4 … photographs from yesteryear.
1974 : The first female lifeguards. Although the Red Beach Surf Club was founded in 1953, female lifeguards were not part of the club until they were officially accepted as members in 1974.
Pictured above, six of the eight female members who obtained their Surf Medallions in 1974 to become fully qualified lifeguards with Red Beach. From left: Mandy Glover, Carolyn Hogan, Sally Glover, Ruth Mannall, Carol Harker, Carol-anne Clarke.
1950's: Owen Chapman Carnival. The Red Beach 6-Man Rescue & Resuscitation team being judged during an Owen Chapman Cup surf carnival at Red Beach during the late 1950's.
1972: Surf boat launch. The club's new surf boat "Schweppesmanship" being given a lemonade launch by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Dove-Meyer Robinson, at a ceremony held at Westhaven on 14.11.72.
The crew, from left: Terry Marsh, Colin Brady, Paul Ranby, Jack Young, Paul Von Zalinski.
Check out the tides
18th November 2008
The tide chart has become a popular link on this website. If you're wanting to know the tide times for a specific day on either coast, right through 2008 & 2009, click here.
Events coming up …
18th November 2008
Thurs 20 November Red Beach Squash Club AGM, 7.00 pm, Clubrooms
19 - 22 November Tenderfoot Squash Tournament, Red Beach Courts. For the tournament poster, click here.
Sun 23 November Inter-Club Carnival # 1, Muriwai/Omaha
Wed 26 November JuniorSurf Twilight Carnival # 1, Orewa, 5.00 pm
29/30 November Trillian Trust Surf Boat Series, Round 1, Titahi Bay & Oriental Bay, Wellington
Wed 3 December Surf Sports Twilight Carnival # 2, Red Beach, 5.30 pm
Fri 5 December - National Jandal Day -
Sat 6 December North Island BP IRB Championships, Waipu Cove
Sun 7 December JuniorSurf Carnival # 1, Red Beach, 9.00
Pub to Club event won by Red Beach A
4th November 2008
The Red Beach A crew rowing past the Wenderholm Regional Park.
The Red Beach ‘Red Necks’ surf boat crew swept by Craig Dillon emerged as the winner of the annual Pub to Club surf boat challenge on Saturday 1st November.
Taken on times, the crew finished the event just nine seconds ahead of the Piha A crew swept by Mark ‘Horse’ Bourneville. The Red Beach ‘Cab Savs’ masters crew finished in third spot, three minutes behind the winners.
The event, sponsored by BH Heron Plumbing, saw crews row from the settlement at Puhoi, down the river to Wenderholm then across the ocean to Red Beach to finish in front of the surf clubrooms.
Ideal conditions prevailed for the seven men’s and three women’s crews who left at three-minute intervals to cover the 16km distance.
The Waihi women’s crew, swept by veteran Danny Harris, rowed home first in their division in an impressive time. The U-23 Piha Pirates crew won the age group division.
For the Pub To Club photo gallery, click here.
Results:
Men - Red Beach Red Necks (1:23.04) 1, Piha A (1:23.13) 2, Red Beach Cab Savs (1:26.05) 3, Red Beach Icebreakers (1:30.11) 4.
Women - Waihi (1:32.22) 1, Orewa (1:39.29) 2, Red Beach Rebels (1:45.09) 3
Age Group - U23 Piha Pirates (1:27.19) 1, U19 Piha Pistols (1:31.14) 2, U19 Piha Underdogs (1:37.05) 3
The Red Beach Cab Savs masters crew on the Puhoi River.
30 years of support
4th November 2008
The Pub to Club surf boat challenge coincided with 30 years of support for the Red Beach Surf Club by Bryan Heron (above). The club presented him with an enlargement of the photograph taken in 1978 when he donated two rescue skis, thus beginning a remarkable era of sponsorship. The above photograph, printed on canvas, was taken in the same spot as the original presentation.
Construction update
4th November 2008
Photo series # 7 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Saturday 1st November.
The club's volunteers had good weather on their side to push on with the boxing for the next big pour of concrete.
The boxing almost at the ready for the reinforcing steel.
Peter Lloyd was back again to volunteer his services by measuring and cutting the timber for the boxing.
The construction site provided a grandstand view for the finish of the Pub to Club surf boat challenge.
Flashbacks …
4th November 2008
Series 3 … photographs from yesteryear.
1973: The first Nipper members. At the start of the 1973/74 season, the Red Beach club introduced Nipper members to its ranks. Initially there were 20 boys aged from seven - 13 years with Gary Faircloth as their instructor.
At the time, the Red Beach Surf Club was an all-male domain. Female lifeguards were not part of the surf club until they were officially accepted as members by way of a change to the club’s constitution at the AGM in July 1974. The Nipper division was re-named the JuniorSurf division in later years.
1981: The demise of a surf boat. Red Beach's surf boat "Blue Bonnet" met with a tragic ending while being rowed at the Auckland Championships at Piha on Auckland's west coast. While charging down the face of a 5m wave and full of water, the boat decided it wanted to be a submarine and kept going until it met the sandy seabed.
The 'Auckland Star' evening newspaper ran the story and it was picked up by the Metropolitan Life Assurance Company who went on to donate a new surf boat to the Red Beach club. It was appropriately named "Metropolitan Life" and its launch coincided with the announcement of a $150,000 sponsorship of the Metropolitan Life Youth Programme. The sponsorship was to support the country's nine surf lifesaving districts with recruitment and training for Nippers.
Spruce-up for courts
4th November 2008
The club's two squash courts came in for a spruce-up recently when the floors were re-sanded by way of volunteer labour provided by Joe Moran, a past member. Squash club members Matt Pepper and Chris Harre (above) then applied new strips of of red tape on each court.
Patrols under way
28th October 2008
The hoisting of the flags above the Red Beach surf clubrooms on Saturday 25th October signalled the start of the new patrolling season for 2008-09. The club's volunteer lifeguards are rostered for patrols on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays through to Easter Monday, 13th April 2009.
Construction update
28th October 2008
Photo series # 6 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Saturday 25th October.
The club's volunteers were back on site during Labour weekend to prepare the boxing for the concrete beams which will sit on top of the columns.
Paul Candy from the club's JuniorSurf division was another qualified builder to offer his services for the deck project.
The advanced stage of blockwork construction for the bigger ablution areas.
Chris Randell and Bruce Whitehead preparing the scaffolding which will provide support for the formwork for the concrete beams.
Construction activity coincided with the first day of the summer's surf patrols.
Another perspective of the deck construction project.
Lifting the formwork into place in preparation for the next concrete pour for the support beams.
Flashbacks …
28th October 2008
Series 2 … photographs from yesteryear.
1950’s Red Beach: The beachscape featured on a colour postcard.
1978: The start of the B H Heron sponsorship. Bryan Heron, standing at left, made a presentation of two rescue skis to Red Beach club captain John Glover while surrounded by some of the club’s Nipper members. Thus began a remarkable era of Heron sponsorship which flourishes to this day.
1972: Cyclone fury at Red Beach. In the aftermath of Cyclone Carlotta which struck the country in January 1972, waves pounded the Red Beach foreshore, forcing the lifeguard patrol to close the beach for the period of the high tide. Onlookers stood on the beachfront, watching the surging surf in awe.
The result of Cyclone Carlotta was a huge surf which formed 300m beyond the reef at Red Beach. The club’s surf boat crew launched “Miss Rothmans” and rowed out past the breakers. Rather than risk being smashed against the rocks while returning to the beach, the crew put into Stanmore Bay where the surf was much more subdued.
OE at Red Beach …
28th October 2008
It’s quite easy to take in Red Beach while on an OE (overseas experience) as lifeguards Chris and Jane Moors found. While on a recent sojourn in Europe they visited Red Beach on the Greek island of Santorini.
Chris is now back living at the real Red Beach and preparing for the next Takapuna Beach Series. Jane is currently in London to continue her OE.
Centenary of surf lifesaving in NZ
28th October 2008
The centenary of surf lifesaving in New Zealand to be celebrated in 2010 will mark 100 years since the first lifesaving patrols were started.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) was not officially formed until 1932 and so the New Zealand body itself is not celebrating 100 years of existence.
The first clubs to be established were New Brighton and Lyall Bay, both in 1910. To mark the occasion, the New Zealand Championships will be held at New Brighton, Christchurch in March 2011.
Lifesavers with surf reels beneath the pier at New Brighton, circa 1917.
Enrol for JuniorSurf
28th October 2008
The Red Beach Surf Club is still taking registrations for its JuniorSurf division. Parents wanting to enrol their children aged from 5 - 13 years can contact club administrator Debra Cairns at the club rooms, ph. 426 5283 or by email info@redbeachslsc.com
Children can also be enrolled during the JuniorSurf Opening Day on Sunday 2nd November. Be at the clubrooms from 9.00 am onwards. Activities begin on the beach at 10.00 am.
To print out the JuniorSurf registration form, click here.
JuniorSurf members with club coaches at a training day at Red Beach last summer.
Red Beach competitors at the JuniorSurf Auckland Championships in March.
Flashbacks …
14th October 2008
We bring you our new pictorial series featuring photographs from yesteryear.
Series 1 … black & white pics from the archives.
1959: The opening of the Red Beach clubrooms. The building served as the surf club’s headquarters for 24 years before being demolished in 1983 when the club’s existing clubrooms were opened. This building was situated on the land which is now the Red Beach Waterfront Reserve.
1965: The legendary Reg Harker after winning the NZ Belt Race title for the first time. On the same weekend in Christchurch he also won the NZ Surf Race title to achieve the 'double', the most popular success among all lifeguards at the championships. He went on to claim the Belt Race title on four consecutive occasions and he won the Surf Race title four times.
Harker became known as the ‘iron man’ of surf lifesaving in New Zealand during the 1960’s because of his outstanding abilities in competition. He was made a Life Member of the Red Beach club in 1967 and currently lives with his wife Faye in Christchurch.
Australian Champs returning to Kurrawa
14th October 2008
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will return to Kurrawa on Queensland’s Gold Coast in 2010.
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) recently announced a deal which will secure the future of the event through to 2022.
The ‘Aussies’, as they have become known, will be held on the Gold Coast for three years from 2010 to 2012. The plan is then to rotate them between other Australian states and the Gold Coast every two years.
The championships were held at Kurrawa from 1995 to 2006 then moved to Scarborough Beach in Perth for three years.
The dates for the 2010 event at Kurrawa are yet to be announced.
For the full press release from SLSA, click here.
Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast, with the imposing buildings of Surfers Paradise as a backdrop, will again be the venue for the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships in 2010.
The Australian Championships attract more than 7,000 competitors and officials, with tens of thousands of spectators during the six-day event.
New deck for club
3rd October 2008
An artist's perspective on how the completed deck will look at the Red Beach clubrooms. The deck will be accessible from the club lounge and have an area of 150 square metres.
SLSNZ awards to two surf club members
3rd October 2008
Red Beach stalwarts Edwin Richards and Michelle Newton have been presented with Service Awards by Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
The past few months have seen a trifecta of awards bestowed on Edwin, the club’s JuniorSurf chairman. The award from SLSNZ comes on top of the Distinguished Service Awards he received from SLSNR in June and from the Red Beach Surf Club in July.
Michelle Newton joined Red Beach in 1987 and has served on various committees. She was the club’s Awards Instructor for three years and established a record number of 47 Surf Medallion passes for the club in 1993. For the past 14 years she has been a member of the SLSNR Board of Judges and for 10 years as a New Zealand official in the surf boat arena at the National Championships.
Ed Richards (above) and Michelle Newton (below) receiving their SLSNZ Awards from Bronwyn Cox of the Lion Foundation. The presentations were made at the DHL 'In It For Life' Awards luncheon at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington on Sunday 28th September.
Work in progress …
3rd October 2008
Photo series # 5 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Tuesday 30 September
Checking out the columns for the deck before the arrival of the concrete truck to fill them with cement.
The concrete pour under way for the 12 support columns.
Concrete being pumped into two of the columns during the late-afternoon pour.
A bird's eye view of the proceedings.
It took just over an hour to fill all 12 columns.
Craig Dillon (right) pumps the concrete into the last of the columns while Steve Golder uses the concrete vibrator.
40 years of BP partnership in NZ
3rd October 2008
This month, Surf Life Saving and BP celebrate 40 years of partnership.
The sponsorship began following the Wahine disaster in 1968 with BP’s subsidiary Europa donating a new surf boat to Worser Bay Surf Club. The relationship evolved through medical scholarships, Europa Jet Rescue Boats and then through to IRB’s.
BP’s long-term support has enabled Surf Life Saving NZ to develop the most advanced IRB fleet in the world by having one standard type hull and engine used throughout the country.
There are 160 IRB’s sponsored by BP in the 71 surf lifesaving clubs in New Zealand. They are used in more than half of the rescues conducted by surf lifeguards each year.
BP service stations are selling battery-powered toy IRB’s during October, supported by TV advertising.
Calling all Masters …
3rd October 2008
The Top Masters Club Trophy will be up for grabs at the Auckland Championships in February.
Masters races for men and women over 30 years of age will be contested in the events of Board, Ski, Surf Race, Beach Sprint, Boat & Canoe. The Masters age group is a single age group and not broken down by different years. Medals will be awarded and all points will count for the trophy.
The Auckland Championships will be held at Ruakaka during the weekend of 14/15 February 2009.
Red Beach masters competitors at Ohope Beach, Whakatane during the NZ Masters Championships in March.
Construction update
26th September 2008
Photo series # 4 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Saturday 20 September
The volunteer labour for the Saturday morning working bee was provided by qualified tradesmen from within club ranks.
Phil George lays the blocks for the columns with assistance from Steve Moors.
The stunning spring morning saw rapid progress being made.
Steve Golder and Bill Henderson construct the boxing for the columns in readiness for the next concrete pour.
A portion of the view that will be seen from the completed deck.
Five of the 12 support columns required boxing around the reinforcing steel.
Pat Olsen arrives with the snacks for the mid-morning tea break.
Along with the tea and coffee, the club sandwiches, the bacon & egg pie and the pikelets with cream went down a treat.
Looking ahead 5 yrs
26th September 2008
We take a diary look at some major events coming up during the next five years ...
2009 Australian Championships, Perth, WA (final year)
2010 NZ Championships, venue TBA
2010 Australian Championships, Kurrawa, Gold Coast
2010 Rescue 2010 : Lifesaving World Champs, Newquay, UK, June/July
2010 Centenary of Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand
2011 NZ Championships, Christchurch. Centenary event.
2011 Collaroy SLSC Centenary (sister club)
2013 Red Beach SLSC 60th Jubilee
Work in progress …
16th September 2008
Photo series # 3 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Saturday 13 September
A small crane was brought in to lower the reinforcing steel into position for each of the 12 support columns.
Craig Dillon takes a reading on the height of the columns.
A Saturday morning working bee in progress to tie the reinforcing steel for the columns.
Looking down on the work site. When finished, the deck will be cantilevered and have an area of 150 square metres.
A visit from a construction engineer for a site inspection.
Blair on SLSNR board
16th September 2008
Red Beach club member Blair Cranston (right) was elected to the five-person Board of Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) at its recent AGM.
Blair is a JuniorSurf coach for Red Beach and competes in the Masters division in surf canoe racing. He is the managing director of Cranston Homes Ltd.
Two Red Beach club members were re-elected to operational committees. They are Vaughan Skiffington (Sport) and Mark Rice (JuniorSurf).
A further three club members were re-elected to standing committees. They are Mike Taylor (Allocations), Ed Richards (Honours & Awards) and Graeme Porter (Judiciary).
U-23’s category for surf boat racing
16th September 2008
An under-23 category for men’s crews is being introduced to surf boat racing in New Zealand for the coming season. It will replace the current under-21 category.
The new age category will make its first appearance at Round One of the Trillian Trust Surf Boat Series in Wellington on November 28 & 29.
The decision to introduce it was made after more than 12 months of research, consultation and discussions. An under-23 surf boat category is raced in Australia.
A decision to introduce the same category for women has been deferred until a review is completed after the 2009 Nationals in Gisborne.
Surf boat racing this summer will see an under-23's category for men.
Rescue 2010 in UK
9th September 2008
With Rescue 2008 recently completed in Germany, the focus will now switch to Rescue 2010 in the UK.
The Rescue 2010 Life Saving World Championships will take place at Newquay, Cornwall and the surrounding areas during two weeks of competition in June/July 2010.
Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) will host the event on behalf of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS).
Activities will centre on Newquay which is, not surprisingly, Cornwall’s most popular holiday destination.
To check out the website on Rescue 2010, click here.
Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, the UK’s most famous beach and home of British Surf and Lifesaving. During Rescue 2010 it will be the venue for the National Teams Lifesaving World Championships and the Inter-Club Lifesaving World Championships. It will also host the World Championships for Masters, Surf Boats and IRB’s.
Fistral will also be R2010 beach party central where you can pick up a bargain in the trade village, relax in the beer tent and enjoy the hospitality areas.
Training sessions for Surf Lifeguard Award
3rd September 2008
Tuition is now under way for candidates wanting to become qualified lifeguards with the Red Beach Surf Club. Training sessions for the Surf Lifeguard Award are as follows:
Wednesdays: 7.00 pm Red Beach clubrooms Sundays: 9.30 am Red Beach clubrooms
The Surf Lifeguard Award is a pre-requisite for competing in surf carnivals. For further information contact Awards Instructor Chris Randell at 027 289 5780.
A recent session for Surf Lifeguard Award candidates at the Leisure Centre at Stanmore Bay, with Chris Randell and Helen Furniss providing instruction from the side of the pool.
Work in progress …
3rd September 2008
Photo series # 2 on the construction of the new deck at the Red Beach clubrooms, Saturday 30th August
A chain gang makes light work of the task to stack concrete blocks while waiting for the concrete trucks to arrive.
Peter Lloyd and Phil George moving the wet cement from the concrete truck to the footings.
Dean Pouwhare uses a concrete vibrator to help the wet cement to settle while Craig Dillon looks on.
The club’s volunteer workers had to contend with cold, wet conditions to wheel the barrow loads of cement.
Brian Maney prods the wet cement while Jake George moves in with the next barrow load.
Yet another barrow load of cement for the footings. The concrete pour was completed within several hours.
Red Beach, Peru
3rd September 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Peru, the third largest country in South America, is located on the continent’s west coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Paracas is a small fishing village 250km south of the capital of Lima, or three hours by road. It’s at the entrance to the Paracas National Reserve, one of the world’s most valuable and impressive coastal habitats. It’s where the desert and the sea come together in spectacular landscapes.
Red Beach is located on an astonishingly beautiful stretch of coast, surrounded by rugged cliffs, a desert and a lot of sand which make up the National Reserve. It is also known as La Playa Roja (the red beach) with the colour of the sand coming from the granite cliffs. The scenery is beautiful and it was in this rich area that ancient civilizations once flourished.
Paracas is a natural wildlife sanctuary and aquatic life flourishes on the coast. The winds, the sea temperature and other weather factors have created a habitat for more than 200 bird species along with marine life including sea lions, penguins, red and white flamingos and the visiting huge Andean Condor.
Paracas National Reserve also has huge sea lion colonies. Scores of sea lions can be seen lazily basking in the sun while condors and giant sea turtles ease their way through the water. Offshore are islands with a wide range of bird species including penguins, cormoranes, gulls, puffins and many others.
Deck construction under way at club
25th August 2008
Construction of the long-awaited deck at the Red Beach clubrooms is now under way.Work began on Saturday 9th August when a digger moved onto the site to excavate the foundations by digging 12 holes for the support columns. Volunteer labour is being provided by working bees which have been on the site each weekend since the initial dig.
The deck, when completed, will be accessible from the club lounge and will include a lifeguard observation post. It will extend over an area of 150 square metres. The current phase of construction, which will also see improved ground floor ablutions, represents stage one of the total building project. Completion of this stage is expected prior to Christmas.
Our next update will provide details of all stages of the project and the plans to create a first class club facility.
The digger on site in front of the clubrooms to excavate for the foundations for the new deck.
Joint project managers Steve Golder and Doug Stephenson tying the reinforcing steel for the beams during the first on-site working bee.
Wet weather didn't hinder progress and the excavation work was completed in the first weekend.
A total of 12 holes have been dug for the foundations and 4 timber piles have been driven into each one. The excavation work called for the realignment of the drainage system.
Squash club members Bill Henderson and Matt Pepper at a working bee to tie the reinforcing steel mats for the footings.
Cutting the reinforcing rods for the columns, from left: Steve Moors, Roy Herbert, Tere Ryan.
A Saturday morning working bee tackling the job of tying the reinforcing rods.
Discussing the reinforcing requirements, from left: Steve Moors, Craig Dillon, Steve Golder.
New Admin Officer
25th August 2008
Red Beach Surf Club has appointed Debra Cairns (right) as its new administration officer.
Debra became associated with the club in 2004 when her 3 children joined the JuniorSurf division. At the same time she became a member of the JuniorSurf committee and served on it for four years which included one season as secretary.
For the past two years she has been the club’s Funding Co-ordinator, the Rookie Co-ordinator and a JuniorSurf official for SLSNR events. Last season she was a member of the club’s Management committee, serving as Treasurer.
At the club’s Prizegiving Night in May, she received the award for outstanding achievement over the 2007-08 season.
Debra will be looking after the administration matters for the SeniorSurf, JuniorSurf and Squash divisions of the club.
The rise and rise of
Erin Taylor
4th August 2008
With the Olympic Games about to get under way in Beijing, we take a pictorial look at Red Beach lifeguard Erin Taylor, the first-ever female to represent New Zealand in flat water kayaking at an Olympics.
She’s a talented young woman who has performed well in every sport she has participated in – swimming, netball, surf lifesaving and now kayaking – and we track her successes during the past few years.
Erin's had a rapid rise in kayaking and we can reflect on having in our midst a Kiwi sportswoman with the X factor.
To read the article Taylor-made for a Career in Kayaks by journalist Kevin Tutty, click here.
Red Beach, November 2000: Alongside some newly sponsored training equipment, 13-year-old Erin Taylor (right) with Lauren Johnson and James Clarke. All three were top competitors in the surf club’s JuniorSurf division.
March 2002: At the age of 14 and competing for the very first time at the NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, she won the U16 Women’s Beach Flags event at Mount Maunganui.
March 2004: At Kurrawa on the Gold Coast, Erin Taylor became the first-ever Red Beach competitor to win a medal at the Australian Championships. She placed third in the U-19 Surf Ski event.
March 2005: Winning the U19 Surf Ski race title for the first time at the NZ Championships at Mount Maunganui.
March 2005: Red Beach's gold medallists in the U19 Women’s Ski Relay at the NZ Championships, Mount Maunganui. From left: Erin Taylor, Jodie Johnson, Jane Moors. Taylor collected a third gold medal for the U19 Taplin Relay.
March 2006: The TV interview following her win in the U19 Surf Ski race at the NZ Championships in New Plymouth where she retained her title. Taylor was a key competitor for Red Beach when the club won the Allan Gardner Trophy for top New Zealand club for overall points at the championships. Even Nostradamus didn’t see it coming.
March 2006: Erin Taylor with Red Beach surf coach Vaughan Skiffington at the NZ Championships. It was Skiffington who suggested that she give kayaking a go because it was similar to surf ski paddling and also an Olympic sport. “I thought that was a really good idea,” said Taylor.
March 2006: Erin Taylor (right) winning the Australian U19 Surf Ski title at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast, finishing ahead of Australian paddler Elyse Yardley from the North Wollongong club. Taylor was one of 73 starters in the event and made her way to the 16-berth final after displaying top form in the heats, quarters and semifinals.
November 2007: Erin Taylor made her representative debut as a member of the New Zealand surf lifesaving team at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, the birthplace of surf lifesaving in Australia. She was a member of the 12-strong Kiwi team, along with a surf boat crew, to compete with five other countries in the International Surf Challenge.
Taylor provided one of the highlights in an otherwise Australian-dominated event. She caught her international rivals napping with a dominant display on her ski and sealed a great three-test series by beating the best surf ski paddlers in the world in two of her three ski races.
She was also a member of the New Zealand women’s beach relay team which completed a clean sweep by winning the beach relay event three days in a row.
December 2007: The New Zealand surf lifesaving team on Bondi Beach at the conclusion of the International Surf Challenge. Held over four days, the event was a celebration of 100 years of surf lifesaving in Australia. Erin Taylor is pictured fourth from the left in the front row. The stint with the New Zealand team in Australia temporarily ended Taylor’s foray into surf lifesaving.
On her return to New Zealand she was back on Auckland’s Lake Pupuke to resume her steely focus on making the kayaking team for the Beijing Olympics.
May 2008: Erin Taylor was officially named in the New Zealand kayaking team to compete at the Beijing Olympics. She will contest the K1 500m event.
Watching the 2004 Athens Olympics sowed the seeds of an Olympic dream for the teenage Taylor. Her initial goal was the 2012 London Olympics, however, Beijing quickly came into contention when she began to make rapid progress in the sport.
The four paddlers who make up New Zealand’s Olympic kayaking team are currently in training in Rockhampton, Queensland and are about to head to Beijing. From left: Steven Ferguson, Erin Taylor, Mike Walker, Ben Fouhy. The kayaking heats begin on Monday 18th August, with Taylor on the water on Tuesday 19th.
Awards made at AGM
28th July 2008
Three Red Beach Surf Club members were given recognition for their services to the club when awards were handed out at the Annual General Meeting held on Sunday 27th July.
Edwin Richards, the club’s JuniorSurf chairman was presented with a Distinguished Service Award for his services to surf lifesaving and to the club since joining in 1978.
Mike Taylor, who was re-elected as Club President at the meeting, was the recipient of a Recognition Award. He has served as chairman of the SeniorSurf division, as the club’s Fundraising Officer and as a delegate to SLSNR. He has also been involved in IRB instruction for club lifeguards.
Craig Dillon (above) although not present at the meeting, was also the recipient of a Recognition Award. He has been the club’s Surf Boat Captain for the past four seasons and his total dedication to surf boat competition has established Red Beach as one of the top surf boat clubs in the country.
Ed Richards (left) received a Distinguished Service Award and Mike Taylor was the recipient of a Recognition Award.
Red Beach, Komodo Island, Indonesia
4th July 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Among the thousands of small islands of Indonesia is one called Komodo, a mountainous stretch of volcanic rock covered with grass, palms and small pockets of jungle. The island, at 35km long, is part of Komodo National Park, 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. The park is a World Heritage site and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which are Komodo, Rinca and Padar. The region has around 4,000 inhabitants.
Red Beach, located on the eastern side of Komodo Island, is an exotic white sandy beach tinted pink by fragments of red coral. This popular anchorage is known for its beautiful underwater scenery which ranks it amongst the best in the world for snorkeling which is excellent over a healthy shallow reef. Diving is at the reef edge where the bottom drops down to 25 metres. Above the water, many wood carving and pearl jewellery entrepreneurs ply their wares by boat.
In the sea, the vibrant colours and exotic life enchant divers and snorkelers alike as endless schools of fish ride the waterways rushing up from deep sea vents. Below them the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of fluorescent corals and marine invertebrates - an underwater photographer’s paradise. The island, along with a few others nearby, is the sole habitat of the world’s largest lizard, known as the Komodo Island monitor or more popularly, the Komodo dragon. Red Beach is located just in front of the old dragon feeding station, directly across the bay from Komodo Village.
Komodo dragons can reach 3 metres in length and weigh up to 100kg. They are the top predators in their habitat and feed on wild boar, deer, water buffalo, dogs, goats, rats, snakes, smaller dragons, and once in a while – humans.
They hunt by ambush, hiding in the scrub brush along trails. Despite their lumbering appearance, they can move with alarming speed when they want to. They can’t sustain a long chase, but all they need to subdue their prey is one bite. The Komodo dragons carry poisonous bacteria in their mouths so if they don’t immediately catch their prey, the attack is often fatal. Using their long forked tongues, they track the scent of their prey as the wounded animal slowly weakens from the infected bite, a process that can take several days.
The Komodo dragon is an endangered species and there are approximately 6,000 in existence.
Distinguished Service Award : Ed Richards
15th June 2008
Red Beach JuniorSurf Chairman Edwin Richards (right) has been presented with a Distinguished Service Award from Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
The presentation was made at the recent Awards of Excellence night held at the ASB Lounge, Eden Park.
Ed had his beginnings with the South Brighton club in Christchurch before moving to Auckland. He joined the Red Beach club as a patrolling lifeguard in 1978 and competed with distinction in ski and canoe events.
As a committee member for several years he served as gear steward, instructor and deputy captain while maintaining a high competitive interest. For four years he was a member of the Auckland Surf Lifesaving rep team and in 1987 was the top achiever at the Auckland Championships, winning six gold medals.
From 1991-1997 he was a New Zealand selector and in the mid-nineties was the NZ Development Squad Coach.
He has been a member of Red Beach’s JuniorSurf Committee for five years, serving as chairman for the past two seasons.
Ed also represented New Zealand in kayaking at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
A record 500 people attended the recent SLSNR Awards of Excellence Night held at the ASB Lounge, Eden Park.
Top surf athletes
15th June 2008
Red Beach sports award winners at the SLSNR Awards of Excellence Night. From left: Dylan French, Caitlin Ryan, AJ Maney
Three Red Beach lifeguards were amongst the sports award winners at the recent SLSNR Awards of Excellence Night. All were recognised for their outstanding sports achievements during the 2007-08 season.
Dylan French took out the under-16 Sportsman of the Year Award in just his first season competing for Red Beach. He has excelled in Iron Man, surf and board events and emerged as the top U-16 Iron man competitor in the Northern region. At the NZ Championships he collected 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.
Caitlin Ryan was presented with the under-16 Sportswoman of the Year award for the second year in a row.
A multi-talented surf athlete with across-the-board abilities in ski, board, swim, tube and beach relay events, she broke an 11-year old record in winning 13 gold medals at the Auckland Championships. At the NZ Championships she won 3 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
Alistair ‘AJ’ Maney scored the under-19 Sportsman of the Year award after achieving excellent results in board, ski, swim and Iron man events. He achieved back-to-back wins in the Iron Man at the U-19 Surf League, and emerged as the top competitor from the Northern Region at the NZ Championships. He came away with 4 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal. He also collected gold and silver medals in under-17 ski events at the Australian championships.
Olympians from Red Beach club ranks
15th May 2008
It’s a little known fact that there are eight Red Beach surf club members, past and present, who have competed at the Olympic Games.
All have represented New Zealand in kayaking, while Steven Ferguson has also represented his country in swimming. Ferguson, along with older brother Alan, was a member of the club’s JuniorSurf division for three seasons in the early-nineties.
Those to have worn the Silver Fern are:
Don Cooper & John Leonard (both in 1976), Ian Ferguson (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992), Edwin Richards (1984), Stephen Richards & John MacDonald (1988, 1992), Mark Scheib (1992), Steven Ferguson (swimming 2000, kayaking 2004, 2008).
The Red Beach club has now produced its very first female Olympian in Erin Taylor.
Lifesavers required?
4th May 2008
We often see some ridiculous behaviour on beaches, but could this be liquid lunacy?
In Zimbabwe, Africa, you will find the magnificent Victoria Falls at a height of 128m. It’s one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders and at 1,708 metres wide it's the largest curtain of water that exists.
This location is known as the Devil's Pool, a natural rock pool at the very top of the Victoria Falls and during the months of September and December it’s possible to swim close to the edge of the falls without falling over.
These falls are becoming well known within the ‘radical tourist’ industry in which a growing number of people are searching for the ultimate experience. At least the hippos and crocodiles stay a more intelligent distance from the falls. Fancy a job as a pool lifeguard?
Rookie Challenge win to Red Beach
16th April 2008
Red Beach’s JuniorSurf members have snared the Perry Foundation Rookie Challenge for the second year in a row to wrap up a highly successful summer for the club.
The 5-person ‘Red’ team which took out the win was one of 16 club teams participating in the event held in choppy conditions at Mairangi Bay. Red Beach also entered a White and a Blue team.
All Rookie lifeguards were judged on a scenario and theory test which involved first aid treatment of a dislocated shoulder and the rescue of one patient from the water.
Teams then participated in a surf teams race, tube rescue relay, board rescue relay and a beach relay around a sand circuit in which the baton was a rescue tube.
Two teams – Red Beach Red and Orewa White – finished on 190 points each, however, the title was awarded to Red Beach on a count back for scoring higher points in the scenario section.
To read more on the Rookie Challenge, click here.
Overall Points: Red Beach Red (190) 1, Orewa White (190) 2, Mairangi Bay A (187) 3, Orewa Blue (181) 4, Orewa Red (177) 5, Red Beach Blue (171) 6, Sunset Beach (159) 7, Piha Red (158) 8, Red Beach White (154) 9, United North Piha (131) 10.
Red Beach JuniorSurf's 'Red' team which won the Perry Foundation Rookie Challenge. From left: Corbin Hart, Emily Pearce, Cody Richards, Mitchell Ryan, Melissa Gracie.
Red Beach, Crete
16th April 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. It’s a famed 'clothing optional' beach located near Matala in the south of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands which lies approximately 160km south of the Greek mainland.
Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance.
Beautiful yet secluded, it can be reached only by water or on foot which involves a steep climb followed by a steep descent, in about half an hour from the village of Matala.
Red Beach takes its name from the ochre colour of the sand. While it doesn’t necessarily exude the same stunning red colors of Red Beach Santorini, it is indeed picturesque in its own right, set against golden hills and cliffs which provide a setting for some sparce, green vegetation.
Most often during the busier summer months, you can rent shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs, but at times there are no rentals and it’s just you, your towel and whatever else you bring.
Matala View, on the hill above Red Beach, looking towards Matala Village. The ascent is steep but the view is worth the trouble and the effort. The tricky hike down to Red Beach affords some sweeping sights of the beach and the water, set against the coast’s cliffs.
At the north side of the beach the rocks are carved into ancient Minoan and Egyptian shapes, carried out a number of years ago by a Belgian man by the name of Gerard.
Red Beach Crete is primarily known for its affiliation as a 'clothing optional' beach. Predominantly, this section of the beach is kept at the northern side, however there is no strict rule against straying from this section without covering yourself.
But, do not think that you have to strip to enjoy Red Beach Crete as there is ample tolerance for all.
Gold & silver medals to AJ Maney in Perth
7th April 2008
Alistair ‘AJ’ Maney has capped off a remarkable season in the surf by collecting gold and silver medals at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth.
Competing for the Gold Coast club of North Burleigh, Maney picked up his gold medal in the under-17 men’s ski relay event.
Then, in the flat water of Scarborough Beach, the venue for the championships, he paddled home second to Bulli’s Ben Griffiths in the final of the under-17 men’s ski race to take out the silver medal.
He was also a member of North Burleigh’s under-17 surf team which placed fourth and drew additional points for the club.
For the results of all the New Zealanders competing in Perth, click here and go to Live Results.
Scarborough Beach in Perth, venue for the Australian Championships.
Ohope and glory
7th April 2008
Red Beach masters competitors between events at Ohope Beach, Whakatane during the NZ Masters Championships in March. They returned home with a collection of medals of various colours.
Legless competitor?
30th March 2008
Is it possible to have a legless beach flags competitor, or can a camera sometimes deceive you?
The event was the 12-year-old boys beach flags final at Orewa Beach during the Up&Go Auckland JuniorSurf Championships in early-March. The 'legless' competitor is Max Marshall while the actual winner was Matthew Keenan who has his hand on the flag.
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
The flying squad ...
30th March 2008
We caught our flying squad in action in the beach flags event at the recent Up&Go JuniorSurf Championships held at Orewa. The pictures tell the story.
Big medal haul to Red Beach at Ohope
22nd March 2008
Top Auckland club at NZ Championships
Red Beach delivered a raft of outstanding performances at the recent national surf lifesaving championships at Ohope Beach, Whakatane.
Competitors collected 11 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals during the course of the three-day event, enabling Red Beach to emerge as the top club from the Northern region.
In the tussle for the Allan Gardner Trophy for surf lifesaving supremacy, Red Beach finished in third place behind Midway (Gisborne) and Westshore (Napier). Close to 50 clubs from throughout New Zealand took part in the championships.
Competitive successes were right across the board with the under-16 men’s and women’s divisions being key contributors to the points table.
Overall Points: Midway (94) 1, Westshore (88) 2, Red Beach (77) 3, Mairangi Bay (65) 4, Mt Maunganui (64) 5, Lyall Bay (32) 6, Papamoa (26) 7, Orewa (26) 8, Piha (24) 9, Titahi Bay (21) 10, Fitzroy (18) 11, Waikanae (17) 12, East End (17) 13, Waimairi (17) 14, Muriwai (16) 15, Ocean Beach Kiwi (15) 16, South Brighton (13) 17, Wainui (11) 18, North Beach (10) 19, NPOB (10) 20.
Ohope Beach, Whakatane, the venue for the 2008 NZ Surf Life Saving Championships.
National champions!
22nd March 2008
We bring you our
Golden Gallery of Red Beach competitors who won a total of 11 national titles at the recent NZ Surf Life Saving Championships held at Ohope Beach.
We extend congratulations to all winners on their particularly fine achievements.
Chris Moors and AJ Maney won the very first title decided at the Nationals, the open men's Board Rescue event.
Keziah George and Caitlin Ryan teamed up to win the under-19 women's Board Rescue event at Ohope. They won the under-16 event at the 2007 Nationals.
The duo of AJ Maney and Sam Cosgrove were first back to the beach to claim the under-19 men's Board Rescue title.
Terrific Trio. Lauren Johnson, Serena Ball and Caitlin Ryan handled the Ohope surf with aplomb to take out the open women's Ski Relay title.
Jared Pouwhare and Dylan French charged across the finish line in the under-16 men's Board Rescue event to snare the national title.
Caitlin Ryan was all class in winning the under-16 women's Ski Race title. She came away from the championships with 3 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
In the fiercely fought open men's Board Relay event, AJ Maney, Chester Edwards and Chris Moors put in blistering performances to nail the win.
Jared Pouwhare, Brock Hart and Dylan French continued their string of wins in the under-16 men's Taplin relay event to take out the national title.
Brock Hart, after displaying marked progress in ski paddling all summer, capped off the season with a fine win in the under-16 men's Surf Ski event.
Jared Pouwhare, Kurt Leopard and Dylan French made sure the season's hard training paid off by taking out the under-16 men's Board Relay event.
Red Beach's eleventh title came with the winning of the Senior Surf Teams race by Chris Moors, Sam Cosgrove, Jake George and AJ Maney. The team was presented with the Bone of Goodwill Trophy (above) which was given to the NZ Surf Life Saving Association by the SLSA of Australia. It was first contested in 1934 and won by the Lyall Bay Club from Wellington.
The trophy has been won by Red Beach on three previous occasions, in 1993, 1995 and 1996.
Red Beach on top at JuniorSurf Champs
22nd March 2008
Red Beach pulled off a stunning victory at the recent Up&Go Auckland JuniorSurf Championships, finishing more than 200 points clear of its nearest rival.
It was an across-the-board effort with all age divisions contributing handsomely to the overall points.
The all-day event, held at Orewa Beach, replaced the annual Cath & Eddie Millar Cup competition.
The championships were originally scheduled for a weekend in February but were cancelled because of atrocious weather and sea conditions.
Almost 700 competitors took part in near-perfect weather conditions.
Overall Points: Red Beach (614) 1, Orewa (403) 2, Mairangi Bay (333) 3, Piha (141) 4, Ruakaka (50) 5, Muriwai (43) 6, Waipu Cove (43) 7, United N-P (14) 8, Mangawhai Heads (11) 9, Omaha (11) 10, Sunset Beach (4) 11, Raglan (4) 12, Bethells Beach (3) 13.
Lifeguard patrol
3rd March 2008
Club lifeguards on patrol on a recent Sunday at Red Beach. From left: Corby Lovell, Samantha Curd, Britany Lloyd, Simon Mittermeier, Serena Ball, Naomi Young, Sam Young.
Red Beach, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
3rd March 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Red Beach, also known as Playa Caracas or Playa del Corcho is one of the best-loved beaches on the small lush island of Vieques, 6 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The beach is a long stretch of powdery white sand, leading into the crystal-clear Caribbean water that turns shades of turquoise and green as it gets deeper.
Vieques Island was once the site of a large US Navy base. It found its freedom in 2003 when the Navy pulled out, creating conservation land where the bases once stood, and the island is just beginning to get its ‘tourism legs’.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and the Navy used Red Beach for recreation before they left, whiling away the time on this stunning beach with soft sand and even softer water.
Snorkeling here is excellent. You won’t get the variety of colours that a coral reef or rocky pier would afford but you will see stingrays, schools of smaller fish and possibly even a dolphin if you go out far enough.
The beach is framed by gently rolling green hills in the near distance. A number of small uninhabited islands and outcroppings can be seen not too far offshore. But while you’re on the beach you can pamper your feet on the soft white sand, get the perfect tan and enjoy life the Caribbean way.
Golden collection
3rd March 2008
Red Beach lifeguard Caitlin Ryan proudly displays the 13 gold medals she won at the 2008 Auckland Surf Life Saving Championships at Ruakaka in February. She broke the previous record of 11 gold medals which was set by Mairangi Bay’s Katie Pocock at the Auckland Champs held in 1997 at Waipu Cove.
Red Beach, Rio
6th February 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) wins over the tourists with its exotic, luxuriant and strange glamour. Surrounded by coconut and bamboo trees, this place is just another charming oasis of peace and calm in Rio de Janeiro, blessed with cacti, orchids, bromeliads and grassy bushes.
Praia Vermelha, known for its steeply sloping sands, is well sheltered at the foot of the Urca hill. It is found in a predominantly residential neighbourhood with an intimate small-town atmosphere. Boating is popular here.
The beach offers a stunning view of the Sugar Loaf mountain, named for its shape, which rises 396m above sea level. It offers a breathtaking panorama of Rio’s majestic beauty, with built-up areas nestled between magnificent bays and dazzling beaches on one side and abruptly rising mountains from the water, on the other side, in Guanabara Bay.
Red Beach, Greece
24th January 2008
Our pictorial beach series continues …
Red Beach, found on the Greek island of Santorini, is a mesmerizing stretch of red sand that is set against a stunning backdrop of scaling red cliffs. As if Santorini weren’t beautiful enough, with its volcanic landscape and picturesque caldera, Red Beach adds the extra touch that helps to make the island one of the most desired tourist destinations in the Aegean Sea.
The crystal-clear blue waters contrast the stunning red-coloured sands, all set against a prolific cliff background.
Located on the southern coast of Santorini in the area named Akrotiri, Red Beach is truly majestic and you would be hard-pressed to find a beach anywhere in the world that mixes such a color scheme. Often busy during the peak summer months, beachgoers to Red Beach Santorini may find it a bit crowded, especially due to the fact that the close proximity of the cliffs to the water leaves a fairly thin strip of beach.
Some who visit Red Beach Santorini merely park the car and stand atop the cliffs for a view down, but it is worth it to make the trek down to get the full experience. The beach can also be accessed by boat from the port of Akrotiri and the port at Fira. The sun can be very strong here, and the sand is not the most comfortable to sit on, thus many choose to bask under shade umbrellas and beach lounging chairs. Nearby there are taverns and eateries offering meals and snacks.
Wave sculpture
24th January 2008
Club’s first 50 years available on DVD
13th August 2007
A DVD on the Red Beach Surf Club’s first 50 years is available for purchase.
This is the presentation which won acclaim when shown at the club’s 50th Jubilee celebration banquet in May 2003. It’s a memorable combination of film and photos spanning 50 great years of club activities and competition.
The response from people wanting to purchase the DVD as a keepsake resulted in good sales, to the point that remaining stocks are low and there won’t be a production repeat.
The DVD is now back on sale, available for the low price of $15.00 plus packing & postage. To print out an order form, click here.
Olympians from Red Beach club ranks
13th August 2007
It’s a little known fact that there are eight Red Beach surf club members, past and present, who have competed at the Olympic Games.
All have represented New Zealand in kayaking, while Steven Ferguson has also represented his country in swimming. Ferguson, along with older brother Alan, was a member of the club’s JuniorSurf division for three seasons in the early-nineties.
Those to have worn the Silver Fern are:
Don Cooper & John Leonard (both in 1976), Ian Ferguson (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992), Edwin Richards (1984), Stephen Richards & John MacDonald (1988, 1992), Mark Scheib (1992), Steven Ferguson (swimming 2000, kayaking 2004).
Hopes are high for Red Beach to produce its very first female Olympian in Erin Taylor.
