Oardinary Girls eye up national title

Crews from all over WA converged at Mutton Bird Beach on Saturday for the fifth and final leg of the 2011-12 Navy Surf Boat Series.

A total of 36 crews from as far as Esperance and Perth attended the event, which was held in glorious conditions under the auspices of Albany Surf Life Saving Club.

Albany’s only crew, Oardinary Girls, looked the goods after a solid row in their first open women’s heat of the day, skilfully catching a wave in to hit the shore second behind Scarborough Gold.

Placing third in their second heat, they advanced to the semifinal, but for the second consecutive year, bowed out of the series when they placed fifth.

They placed equal ninth for the day with Scarborough Pink.

Scarborough Gold went on to place third overall behind two North Cottesloe teams.

Albany sweep Peter Gray said despite a repeat of last year’s semifinal knockout, the thrill of competition after an extended break had reinvigorated the crew’s hunger to train for bigger events.

“They were on a high by the time we finished and had been missing the racing scene a bit,” he said.

“They did all right, but we’ve got to put in a short eight-week program and get them ready for the States.”

Gray said the ultimate goal was to return to Queensland to compete for the National Title in the combined 160 age group, a step up from the combined 140 age group they placed fourth in last year.

Cottesloe Challengers wrapped up Saturday’s event first in the open men’s division while North Cottesloe Wolf Pack and North Cottesloe Knotts took out the reserve and men’s 23 divisions respectively. Josh Nyman