Mollymook 200 years Male crew: 5th in the Final
Dave Tudor-Jones: 5th, Final 45-49 Years Male Board Race
2019 Aussie Surf Titles, Broardbeach Qld. Where the BEST compete against the BEST!
Mollymook’s 200 year Male Boat crew put in an amazing effort against the best in Australia to come through the 3 heats and qualified for the semi-finals. In the semi they put in a blinder and came home in 1st position. In the final they had some incredible competition, they held their own in the lead group on the trip to the turning buoy but did not get a good run home and finished 5th. A fabulous effort. (Crew members: Russ Bartlett, Paul Newman, Craig Matthews, Kevin Whitford and sweep, Gus Brook.)
Similarly Dave Tudor-Jones in the 45-49 male events put up an huge effort in the heats to qualify for the semi’s and then the final of the board race to finish 6th. Later in the ski race he qualified 6th in the heat, followed by a 5th in the semi and 10th in the final. Likewise in the iron-man Dave came in 10th.
The quality of the competition can be seen from entrants such as former Australian Iron-man champion Guy Andrews winning the 45-49 Male iron-man and Grant Kenny winning the 55-59 Male iron-man events.
Past Mollymook Ocean Swim Competitors
Instagram pic: Lily O’Sullivan, Cudgen SLSC. GOLD U/15 Female Surf Race & Board Race
Jeff Banks Thirroul SLSC. GOLD over 70’s Surf Race, Board Race & Iron-man
Lily O’Sullivan of the Cudgen SLSC won GOLD in the U/15 Female Surf Race & Board Race at these 2019 Aussie surf titles.
Lily competed in last years 2018 Mollymook Ocean Classic at the age of 14 and finished 7th overall in a field of 170 swimmers, easily winning her age division. Her time was 28 min. 25 sec. She also competed in the 2017 ocean swim at age 13. She finished 8th overall in a time of 26 min. 40 sec.
Jeff Banks of the Thirroul SLSC won GOLD over 70’s Surf Race, Board Race & Iron-man at these 2019 Aussie surf titles.
Jeff competed in the 2003 inaugural Mollymook Ocean Swim Classic. He finished 9th overall, easily winning the 55-59 year age category.
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Legends, a bit of Nostalgia
Neville De Mestre, North Burleigh SLSC. Bronze in the over 70 surf race & Iron-man at 80 years of age.
Alan Metti, Cronulla SLSC. 4th in the over 70 surf race & Iron-man at 79 years of age.
Neville De Mestre formerly of the Wollongong SLSC introduced himself and said that he was an adult in the Wollongong club and remembered when Ken Banks turned up as a kid and began competing aged 14.
Alan Metti, Cronulla SLSC pictured with his grand-daughter Emma who was his craft handler in the iron-man event. Alan and his son are friends with local Isabel Zsanto, herself a former Cronulla resident.
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John Mercer, Thirroul SLSC and father of Darren and Dean (deceased)
Cyril Baldock, Bondi SLSC and Len Harris Maroochydore SLSC: 70 years Male surf Race.
John Mercer introduced himself and said he remembers competing against Ken Banks at the NSW State surf titles held at the Tathra Beach as well as on many other occasions during the late 50’s and early 60’s.
Cyril Baldock swam the English Channel at age 70. He completed the gruelling 34 km marathon in 12 hours 45 minutes. Len Harris gives a wave. As youngsters back in the late 50’s and early 60’s he was almost unbeatable winning State and Australian titles during his junior days.
Memories! And each are here at the 2019 Aussie Surf titles, still competing in their mid to late 70’s, whilst Neville is 80.
STOP PRESS: Neville De Mestre, 80 years of age was this afternoon inducted into the Surf Life Saving, ‘MASTERS – Hall of Fame’
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Mollymook News Editor: Ken Banks, Mollymook Beach Waterfront