Fabulous Fish Hoek The makings of a champion lifesaving club

The duo will defend their titles at the 2017 General Tire Lifesaving SA Nationals as Fish Hoek’s depth in strength again makes the club one of the favourites to take overall honours, with a strong contingent from Kwazulu-Natal determined to add Open and Junior Championship Gold to the province’s national stronghold among the Nippers.

Fish Hoek’s 2016 success was huge for a club whose beginnings were humble.

You could call them the originals, the eight members of the 1st Fish Hoek Senior Rovers crew, who formed a lifesaving squad on Fish Hoek Beach. But without these eight, there wouldn’t be today’s national and provincial champions. Back then the equipment of these eight pioneers equaled an old rescue reel and line with a canvas and cork belt. Their clubhouse was a small hut located on the beach.

Fish Hoek’s history is to be celebrated, as are the achievements of the many fine athletes who make up the defence of their title at Camps Bay. It needed in excess of 50 medals to be crowned champions and it may need even more to repel the next best.

Van Gysen, Amy Hare and Kirsten Flanagan make for a compelling Fish Hoek presence in several disciplines and will be the female stars, along with the likes of the Billson’s (Carmel and Lauren) from Marine. Hare was dominant among the juniors in 2016 and won the U19 Female Ironwoman.

Alford-Loots can expect his strongest IronMan competition from club teammates Nicholas and Dominic Notten, who placed second and third in 2016. The trio combined to win Fish Hoek the Open Board Relay and (Nicholas) Notten claimed club bragging rights from Alford-Loots with his victory in the run/swim/run.

Fish Hoek will also look for Championship medals and points from the likes of Luke Durr, Mark Keeling and Julen Rojo-Roos, among many other medal contenders from within the club’s impressive championship contingent.