MNM KIDS GOOD AS GOLD AS CLUB CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE
THESE grommets from the Gold Coast’s “in-between” surf club epitomise the strength of junior surfing in the city.
The kids belong to the Mermaid Nobby Miami Boardriders club which will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Miami Surf Life Saving Club today, from 4pm.
But the juniors won’t be able to party too hard because they have to defend their Joe Engel Cup crown at Burleigh Point tomorrow against North End, Kirra and Burleigh Heads.
Club secretary Dave Bellman said the more established clubs – some which started 50 years ago – complained when MNM Boardriders was founded because they absorbed surfing talent in the area.
“Some clubs gave us a bit of grief asking us what we were doing setting up a new club,” Mr Bellman said.
But on reaching their silver anniversary he said Miami had developed a repu- tation as a family club.
“We have 120 active members and we’re still going strong,” he said.
The Joe Engel Cup, which promotes junior surfing on the Gold Coast, is named after a North End legend who was ranked with Tom Carroll and Cheyne Horan in the 1970s. He died in 2006.
Some Miami juniors will sport the club’s new “loud” special edition 25th anniversary shirts tomorrow.
“It’s a really important competition on the Gold Coast and (the children) want to put in a good effort,” Mr Bellman said.
Mr Bellman said all former MNM members and their families were invited to the celebrations today.