Lorne on hunt for first national title
LORNE’S surf boat rowers are hopeful of success at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Western Australia next month after winning all divisions they entered in at the Victorian state finals last weekend.
Lorne Surf Life Saving Club dominated the senior and reserve divisions, claiming gold in the men and women’s events, including a trifecta in the reserve women’s.
Club legend Geoff Matthews was an integral part of the club’s success, perform- ing as sweep for three out of four teams on the day.
Club vice-president Caitlin McCombe praised Matthews’ long-term dedication to the club. “He used to row for us and has been sweeping for 10 years ... he puts in heaps of hours and gives up a lot of time to travel with the club,” she said. It’s been a long time coming for Lorne’s surf boat rowers, who continued training throughout last year despite the national championships being cancelled due to Cyclone Debbie.
“A lot of crews continued training, so it’s been two years in the making,” McCombe said.
The club is quietly confident of its chances at a maiden national title given the tough conditions at Apollo Bay last Sunday, which had competitors battling a fierce headwind back to shore.
“We’re treating Sunday as a good barometer of things to come,” McCombe said.
The national titles will be held at Scarborough Beach, from Saturday, April 14 to Sunday, April 22.