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RAWSON CLAIMS SIXTH SUCCESSIVE LONG BOARD GOLD
Swansea Belmont long boarder, Matt Rawson has claimed a record sixth straight State board riding title at the 2007 Westpac NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Bate Bay on the Sutherland Shire beaches.
Testing two foot surf witnessed one of the tightest finals in memory as the 36-year-old Rawson relegated seasoned Sydney Northern Beaches duo of Cameron Grey (Manly) and Adrian van der Wallen (Avalon) to the minor placings before backing up to take out the 30 – 39 year masters event.
The humble surfer admitted he had been aiming all season to win the title and was stoked with the result against such high quality opposition in the final.
“I wrote this goal down close to six months ago and to win again is absolutely awesome,” the ecstatic Rawson said.
“I really enjoy the competition but it was never going to be easy against the likes of great surfers such as Cameron (Grey) and Brad Whitaker who are both phenomenal board riders,”
“If I maintain my fitness I will absolutely be back for title number seven and I always just keep in mind that if someone is going to beat me, they’re not going to get an easy ride and I’ll always make them work for it.”
It wasn’t long before Rawson was back in the surf again after swapping his Malibu for a short board to claim silver behind Bronte’s Anthony Carroll in the open event while his fellow Swansea Belmont club mate, Damien Wright claimed the under 19 short board title.
The unexpected second placing came as a surprise to Rawson as he now sets his sights on national scale success with a whirlwind visit to the Australian Championships in Perth in March, a place where he has many fond surfing memories.
“The club entered me in the short board just to see how I would go and to get through the heat and semi and just to make the final was incredible let alone a medal,” he said
“I am booked to go the Australian titles and some of the biggest waves I’ve ever ridden in my life were around Margaret River in Western Australia but it won’t bother me either way if it’s small.
“My passion is putting some time back into board riding in the club and just to see the difference in competition in recent times and the way surfing in surf lifesaving is growing, I believe in five years we’ll be level in skill with mainstream long boarding.”
In the women’s board riding Redhead’s, Michelle Kent claimed her third consecutive open long board title ahead of Tiarne Smith (Cronulla) and Jane Ensor (Collaroy). The open short board gold went to Dee Why courtesy of Maddison Quinn as Smith and Ensor again settled for the minor placings.
The success for the Hunter based board riders continued claiming five of the nine finals on offer with under 17 short boarder, Sam Lendram of Catherine Hill Bay also grabbing gold while 14 year-old Maroubra local, Max Ashford took out the under 15 boys event.
