Hannah’s iron guard
Sculley’s surf lifesaving skills come in real handy
Hannah Sculley has a knack of being in the wrong place at the right time.
And 25 people can thank their lucky stars she was there when they were torn out to sea in a freak rip last month at a Sydney beach.
So, too, can a group of kids she helped rescue after spotting them in strife while working in a surf club restaurant and some young rivals she saw in trouble when she was just a “nine or 10-year-old Nipper’’ competing at a country surf life saving championships.
“It’s just doing what we are trained to do, lending a hand when we are needed,’’ said Sculley, who will be involved in a very different battle with the ocean this weekend in the final two rounds of the Nutri
Grain iron series. “I was born in the country in Wagga, so when we moved my parents got me into the sport so we could have good surf safety. From that moment I just loved it.’’
Just moments after their racing had finished at Maroubra on January 14, top ironwoman and ironmen – including women’s winner Lana Rogers and Newport’s Jackson Borg – saw swimmers in distress when swept out to sea in a rip.
Surf life saving master Jimmy Walker was one of the first to respond from the beach as the ‘rescue, rescue, rescue’ call went out over patrol radios.
“I had just given mum my bag and was going to get my board when I saw Jimmy Walker running into the water with it and I knew something was wrong,’’ she said.
“I saw he and Jackson (Borg) go and I thought, ‘ Oh no’. There were heads everywhere. It was lucky everyone was there.’’
Surf lifesavers volunteer a minimum of 25 hours just to be eligible to race but most average far more to keep beaches safe.
This weekend the elite of the sport will vie for the 2023-24 ironwoman and ironman surf crowns at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast.
Sculley – who is studying to be a teacher and trains, works part-time and often mans the Nippers barbecue at her Northcliffe club – is in 14th place, with her goal to move into the top 10 to guarantee an automatic spot in the next series.
The 25-year-old is also considering a serious tilt at kayaking, a sport Australian life savers have excelled in at past Olympics, including Beijing gold and bronze medallist Ken Wallace in 2008, the K1 men’s four who won gold at the London Olympics in 2012 and Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen, Tokyo champions in the K2 1000m.
Heading into the final rounds of the iron series on Saturday and Sunday, just one point separates four-time champion Ali Day and defending champion Matt Bevilacqua.
Two-time Nutri-grain champion Lana Rogers looks to have the ironwoman title in the bag, with her hefty 27-point lead on Olivia Corrin and 34-point jump on defending champion Georgia Miller.
Saturday, Round 5 11am-1pm, specialist format Sunday, Round 6 11am-1pm, survival format