Locals chosen in elite surf lifesaving squad
Four local surf lifesavers have been named in the North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) squad for its Panthers Port Macquarie 2006-07 Surf Life Saving program.
Launched in mid-2002, through the regional partnerships of Far North Coast, North Coast and Mid North Coast Surf Life Saving branches, the program was the first regional surf life saving talent development program of its type in Australia.
Sponsored by Panthers Port Macquarie since its inception, the program has grown over the past four years and developed a reputation that has now inspired the establishment of similar programs in other regions of NSW.
The 2006-07 squad of 23 athletes, aged 15-19 years includes:
Zoe Bale - Sawtell, Aaron Beavis - Coffs Harbour, Joel Beavis - Coffs Harbour, Matthew Chase - Coffs Harbour, Erin Collins - Port Macquarie, Tahnee Fleming - Skennars Head, Bonnie Hancock - Sawtell, Courtney Hancock - Sawtell, Shannon Hulbert-Green - Byron Bay, Ben James - Kingscliff, Jacob Lollback - Grafton, Kamley Lyndon - East Ballina, Tanyn Lyndon - Ballina, Ty McCartney - Sandy Beach, Gemma Moody - Yamba, Luke Mortimer - Ballina, Jack O’Reilly - Coffs Harbour, Rhyss Oxenford - Port Macquarie, Kye Polverino - Port Macquarie, Kayla Russell - Coffs Harbour, Sarah Tisdell - Sawtell, Sarah Walker - Boambee East and Telecia Wehlow - Port Macquarie.
The academy’s Tony Clarke said Peter Kirkwood, who is a highly regarded performance coach at State and national level, has been appointed head coach for the program and will travel from Maroubra for each of the camps.
“Kirkwood will keep in contact with each of the five assistant branch coaches who will play an important role in providing weekly branch coaching and encouragement between squad camps. Assistant coaches include Ted McCartney (Woolgoolga), Larry Brook (Port Macquarie), Jeff Polverino (Port Macquarie), Richard Hancock (Sawtell) and Adrian Russell (Brunswick Heads). Bryan Lyndon (Lennox Head) is the new program manager,” Clarke said.
The squad’s first camp was at Port Macquarie from 3-6 October where athletes were inducted into the program, attended a sponsor’s recognition function with Panthers Port Macquarie committee members, and undertook a series of fitness and skills assessment tests to determine their allocation into either the pre-elite or development squads.
Additional camps will be held at Woolgoolga in January, Kurrawa in February just prior to the East Coast Championships and the final camp in April will be at Lennox Head just prior to the Australian titles.
