Smallest clubs finish in top two

Bruce Thomas

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North Coast Premiership Boat Series finals 2010

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AFTER a season of ‘playing swapsies’ Red Rock-Corindi have stamped their claim as the region’s biggest little surf life saving club.

The Ragers made it a clean sweep of the three rounds at the North Coast Premiership Boat Series finals held at Woolgoolga last Saturday.

The team of Damien McSkimming (sweep), Mitchell Wright, Jye Reardon, Kallam Laskaj and Jon Kahler finally ended their yo-yoing fortunes in competition with local rivals Minnie Water.

The two had traded friendly barbs for much of the season.

“We went into that carnival just two points ahead of Minnie Water,” Red Rock secretary Leane McLachlan said.

“It’s just been swapsies all the time.

“It’s awesome that the two smallest clubs in our branch finished in the top two.

“We get on really well and we are there to cheer each other on.”

In addition to the Open men’s triumph, the reserve crew rounded out the season with a mid-field position to cap a fine meet for the club.

But it was the efforts of the top team that stole the show.

“They tried to be very calm about it but they we very ecstatic,” McLachlan said.

“They have been in the competition for a few years and not done that well before.

“The dedication of this crew has been fantastic. They have only been together for this season.

“The way that they have come on this season has been great.”

Red Rock now get a shot at surf life saving’s big boys at the Australian Titles on the Gold Coast on March 18.

It’s a fair achievement for the club with the ‘old boat’.

After partying hard the team returned to training yesterday in order to meet their quarter-final ambitions.

“We have never got a placing in the North Coast Boat Series before - because we are a small club it’s hard to get competitors,” McLachlan said.

“We don’t have the new equipment like other clubs but they gave 200 per cent.

“They have shown you don’t have to have a stunning boat.

“The bigger club that compete were talking about Red Rock - we are one to be reckoned with.”

Big seas are expected to play to the strengths of the club at the Australian Titles.

“They need to concentrate because these teams are the big guns (of surf life saving),” McLachlan said.

“Our boys are just that experienced and strong in the biggest seas. That can only be an advantage to us.

“There is a lot of backing up and support from the club.”

In the other events on Saturday Minnie Water claimed the reserve boats ahead of Coffs Harbour and Yamba while the Woolgoolga Sea Hawks impressed to brag second in the under-19s.

In the over-200 years division Woolgoolga head off Coffs Harbour and Macksville-Scotts Head while Foster won 160 years.

To sponsor the Red Rock club in its bid for a new surf boat contact 6649 1248.