Medal haul for dynamic duo

Veteran surf lifesavers Rob Slattery and Ian Spurgeon rose to the occasion at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast last week, returning with five medals between them as Albany's sole representatives among 7000 competitors from across the country.

Aiming for another tilt at gold, Slattery went one better than last year to claim gold in the 65-69 single ski race along with gold in the rescue tube race and bronze in the double ski race at North Kirra Beach.

Slattery, Albany's recently crowned Sportsperson of the Year, had to overcome injury in the lead-up to the championships, but showed no signs of a nagging shoulder complaint to win the single ski race final by two lengths after fearing he would be overrun at the finish line.

The 68-year-old then produced "a blinder" of a swim in the rescue tube race final on his way to another gold medal.

"I had a pretty good start and I had a look to see the rest of the field to the right of me and I couldn't see anyone," Slattery said.

"I've been close the last couple of years but that's the first time I've got a medal in the swim.

"It's a pretty good feeling."

Slattery had to settle with bronze after a slow start in the 60-64 double ski race final, partnering with Cottesloe's Stan Davies and just missing out on a medal in the board rescue.

While Slattery got the job done in the water, Spurgeon slipped under the guard on the sand to snare two silver medals in the flags sprint and 1km beach run.

The 60-year-old said dealing with softer sand compared to Middleton Beach made the task harder, but was pleased to only be beaten by the national coach in the flags and upstage the Eastern States clubs.

"Flags is so tactical as you want to take out who are going to be the best competitors," he said.

"I knew I wouldn't be disgraced as I had run some events in Perth for the State masters."

Spurgeon said the silver medals were the highlight of his time in the sport and was full of praise for his fellow Albany team member and rival competitors from 311 clubs. "He's just an amazing athlete," Spurgeon said.