Surf Life Saving spectacular

The WA Navy Surf Rowers series finale was nothing short of a spectacle as about 250 people descended on Mutton Bird beach for the fifth and final round of the State series on Saturday.

Albany Surf Life Saving Club’s team of Jane Bird, Lynne Baron, Trish Hines, Dani Lynch and sweep Peter Gray lived up to the occasion, making their first finals appearance.

Although unable to claim overall victory, they were more than pleased with placing fifth in the open women’s division ahead of highly ranked North Cottesloe Rocks.

Bird was confident going into the final of a top-three finish, but a tricky start saw the crew fall off the pace early in the 800m race, with Cottesloe Rush powering home to victory ahead of North Cottesloe Divas and Cottesloe Chick Boom.

“We’re rowing hard but it’s a bit tricky going into the wind,” Bird said of the 10-15 knot southerly.

“We deserved to win that final but it just wasn’t our day.”

Albany earned finals contention with the best of the crews posting second, fourth and second places in their three heats.

This was despite being crashed into by two out-of-control metropolitan boats in the final heat.

But after drawing the easternmost alley in the final, Albany started in deeper water than the other crews and were disadvantaged by a persistent rip as they waited for the starter’s gun.

Not to be dissuaded with finishing fifth, Bird said everyone was looking forward to forthcoming carnivals.

“We’ve got the Countries coming up and the States before we head to Queensland for the Masters in April,” she said.

Event spokesman Ian Hughes commended Albany’s finals berth and labelled the carnival as the best-run event on the WA coast.

“It’s been a fantastic competition and there have been absolutely no complaints,” he said.

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