Lorne crew rows surf boat to gold
LORNE Edge is in a league of its own after reinforcing its world champion status with gold at the Australia Surf Rowers League Open event at Elouera, NSW
The open women — Michelle Yann, Peta Glaister, Megan Grierson and Chantal Guziak — proved too strong for their rivals in the prestigious event to be crowned national champions, backing up their gold medal at the World Surf Lifesaving Championships in August.
“It was an awesome effort mate,” sweep Geoff Matthews said.
“It’s the Australian championships of surf boat rowing, really. This one stands alone as a surf boat-only championships so to win gold in that is massive.
“There would have been 350 crews there for that weekend.
“It’s been going probably about 25 years now, maybe 30 years and just for the purity of the event, it’s a pure surf boat event now.
“From a purist, a surf boat point of view, it’s gathering that recognition, so it’s an important race to win.”
It’s been an incredible rise for Lorne’s open women, who have now reached the top of their game.
“The crew started gaining momentum probably three years ago at this event when they picked up a bronze medal,” Matthews said.
“Then last year they went on and got a silver medal in this event and a silver medal at the Surf Life Saving Australia championships.
“Then earlier this (summer) they won the gold medal at the World Surf Lifesaving Championships in South Australia, and then they’ve picked up this.
“They’re getting stronger and stronger and gaining in confidence and the results are starting to show.
“You never take anything for granted in surf boat rowing but they’re certainly committed and hardworking girls.”
In other results, Lorne 31 made the semi-final of the open men’s event, while Lorne Dry and Uni Lornes also made semi-finals in the men’s and women’s reserve events respectively. Three crews from Lorne and two from Torquay also represented the Victorian surf boat team, which finished second overall behind NSW at the event.
Matthews said the next targets for Lorne Edge include the Victorian state championships at Warrnambool next month and the SLSA championships at Broadbeach starting March 30.