Planning for the 100 year celebrations is taking shape with arrangements for the Anniversary Ball at Manly International College of Management (1st September), well underway.  The organising committee met down at South Curly cafe yesterday to nut out some of the finer points of menu, pricing, run-sheet and the all important commemorative ‘gift’.

The girls are planning a couple of reconnaissance missions to check out prospective bands for our live music – its a hard job, but someones got to do it.

Invites will be going out shortly with all the details, so watch for updates on the website, facebook and in your inbox.

At the AGM last Sunday, Dave Olivey & Jordi Skelton were nominated and voted in as our newest life members.  Gaining life membership is no mean feat, nominees need to have demonstrated ongoing commitment to the club in the fullest sense.  Its not about individual achievements (though that is certainly recognised and welcome), rather, its about what the individual has done for the benefit of the club and our members.  Both Dave & Jordi met those requirements and after unanimous votes, both were warmly applauded as they returned to the club hall.

Dave has an amazing 64 years of continuous membership, joining up in 1953!  In his time with Sth Curly, he has been an active patrol member, completing many rescues and also a competitor in both boats and march past.  He was part of the infamous road trip (by truck) to the 1958 Aussie Championships in Perth – that’s a story that requires a bar to lean on and several drinks.  Dave has also done his time on the committee in the 60’s and continues to volunteer a hand wherever needed.  A no-brainer for life-membership.

Jordi, hasn’t got the longevity of Dave (yet), but has also displayed the self-less commitment to Sth Curly that is standard for our Life Members.  Jordi joined the club as a teenager and was an eager competitor in the boats for a short while, but he really found his niche on the beach, winning over 40 individual medals at various levels.  He was part of a very strong beach sprint relay team, and has gone on to share his knowledge and passion for beach sprints with numerous nippers and seniors in his 27years of membership.  He has also been an age manager, rubber duck driver, BBQ chef, fundraiser, water safety stalwart and like Dave, turns up whenever an extra hand is needed.  And if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he met his lovely wife Kylie at Sth Curly!

Tents frantically rose up from the sand last Saturday the 10th of February as many crews prepared for the annual Sydney Northern Beaches Branch Championship. Most of South Curly, however, was seemingly still asleep. Upon our arrival, seeing absolutely no signs of anyone from our club, peering through the masses of people whom had already set up, Owen, Brady and myself were baffled.

Jenny came running over to us and desperately pleaded that we sign in before 7 otherwise South Curly would not be able to compete. We did as we were told and as we dripped in sweat after running like a fat kid chasing an ice cream truck to the small beach shack that housed the officials, the clock ticked over to 7, our hearts stopped, could this be the end?

Brady calmly paced towards the shack, disappeared for about five minutes and then returned with news that would save the 5 crews of South Curly’s hopes of medals on this blisteringly hot day,
“Sign in is before 7:30, we still had half an hour”.

Relieved, we returned to the frenzied commotion of early morning tent construction and waited for some of our comrades to arrive. Finally, the blue and yellow bow of the Chicka majestically rose up over the dunes, brought by the Sneakys, finally some of our own people. The Slickers, Girlies and Indians followed, our army finally took shape as our other two boats arrived and the tent was set up quicker than I have seen before.

The Indians rowed first, followed by the Juniors and then the Girlies, in small conditions, still conditions.

The Straw Hats decided not to row in Open Women and only row in the relay, as Emma had a sore back.

Lamp’s first race featured neither of the other South Curly crews, whom faced each other in the second heat. Lamp came in with a first and the Sneaky Nuts jagged a win over the Slickers by pulling down a last minute wave from behind.

The Indians, coming from a recent block of intense training and many ‘Ocean Thunder’s’, found it hard to crack the top end of the competition, exiting the competition by the end of the round robin format.

The Girlies also didn’t make it to the finals because of injury, but must be commended for their efforts.

All three Junior crews from South Curly made it through to the final of the Junior division. Lamp chose alley 5, the Slickers chose 1 and the Sneakys chose 3. The crack of the gun signalled the beginning of the final and Ribsy’s choice of alley number 1 gave the Slickers a bit of a head start as they edged through the breaking waves relatively untouched. Behind, Lamp began to edge their way towards the Slickers out to sea, ending up on the same wave returning to shore. The Slickers were given first, a token of their consistent training, Lamp second and the Sneakys, in their first proper year of rowing, were given sixth.

Moving onto the last event of the day, the Relay, The Straw Hats, Indians and Lamp prepared for a tough heat, matched up against the very strong crew of Mona Vale. The Indians boasted a great row, setting up Lamp, whom held the lead, the Straw Hats strongly finished the race in first and South Curly had made the final.

We knew that the final would be tough, and with an amazing row by the Indians, beating the Palm Beach A crew that had just won the Branch Carnival in Open Men, Lamp held first placed, and in a situation similar to our heat, gave the Straw Hats the lead and they strongly finished their leg, with South Curly winning convincingly and being crowned the 2017 Relay champions of Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

All in all, it was a successful day, with our crews getting a glimpse at some of the competition, where they are at with their own training and fitness, and a taste test of what is to come this rowing season. Things are looking bright for our yellow and blue army, with ASRL, Pacific Palms, State and Aussies not too far away, big things should be expected from every crew this year.

Kris Martyn

IN 1975 WE HAD SOLD OUR HOUSE NEXT TO HARBORD SCHOOL AND MIGRATED TO COFFS HARBOUR,WITH OUR FOUR KIDS,ONE KID IN A DOG SUIT AND TWO CATS, AND RE ESTABLISHED AT KORORO BAY JUST NORTH OF THE TOWN.

ON THE THIRTEENTH OF FEBRUARY I HAD AN IDEA , AND WENT TO THE FISH CO-OP AND BOUGHT TWO GOOD SIZED BLUE SWIMMER CRABS . NEXT MORNING , VALENTINES DAY, WE PACKED THE KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL, AND ROBIN AND I PUT TOGETHER IN AN ESKY, THE CRABS, A BOTTLE OF WHITE WINE,GLASSES AND CRAB CRACKING TOOLS, AND SET OFF TO A SWEET PLACE WE HAD FOUND, CALLED LOOK AT ME NOW, WHICH IS THE NORTHERN END OF EMERALD BEACH. IT IS A VERY PRETTY ,PURELY PERFECT  LOW HEADLAND, AND  HAS A SHELTERED LITTLE BAY ON IT’S NORTH SIDE.

WE FOUND A LOVELY LITTLE POOL, JUST TO OUR LIKING,AND IT HAD A COUPLE OF SUBMERGED  ROCKS WHICH WE USED AS SEATS, AND A PEBBLY FLOOR.  SO WE SAT ON THE ROCKS, IN CLEAR, CALM WATER, THE WINE ON A CONVENIENT ROCK SHELF, AND DEVOURED OUR CRABS, WITH A GENTLE SEA BREEZE FILLED WITH THE SWEET SCENT OF LIVING SEAWEED AND OCEAN ALL AROUND.  THE SKY WAS CLEAR, THE OCEAN WARM, AND WE WERE SURROUNDED BY LITTLE FISH, WHO HAD COME OUT OF HIDING TO GET THE CRAB SCRAPS.

WE’VE TRIED, BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN QUITE ABLE TO DO IT ALL SO WELL AGAIN.

CHARLIE  KUHN

The 10^th annual Young guns carnival in 2017, on the 15^th of January was an excellent and successful racing day for south curl curl surf club. With numerous crews from all around Sydney and even 1 Queensland crew from Burleigh heads competing in the carnival, which specialises for u19’s to cults divisions. The days racing was to proceed as 3 rounds of a round robin then beginning the elimination rounds for each division.

The day started off with the ‘sneaky nuts’ and ‘slickers’ u19 crews facing off in heat 1. The sneaky nuts arrived in at 4^th and the slickers pulling through with a 2^nd.

Racing continued throughout the day with the ‘south curly girlies’ u23 women’s crew making the first cut of the round robin races, but knocked out in a tough race in the first elimination round against the well performing Collaroy and manly crews.

The ‘slickers’ were in shambles after their second stroke Trent Settree left the carnival due to a flesh eating spider bite, in which they were thankfully assisted by Kris Martyn from the ‘lamp’ crew, who unfortunately could not attend the young guns carnival.

The south curl curl ‘sneaky nuts’ and ‘slickers’ both featured in the final. North Cronulla and South Maroubra taking out 1^st and 2^nd respectively. With sneaky nuts pulling away very tightly on a fortuitous runner wave, to scrape through to come in 3^rd place. Also the curly slickers coming in 4^th after an amazing effort to endure all the challenges they were faced with on the day.

It was the sneaky nut’s first ever placing at a carnival and the boys were over the moon with the result as was their sweep Gus Spiteri. Later the boys came to claim their prize of a training singlet, and oddly an un-marked wine glass as a symbol of their success.

Thus it was a very successful and great day of racing for all south curly crews who attended the day’s festivities.

Kyle Spiteri

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DUTIFULLY PUSHING A TROLLEY ALONG IN WOOLWORTHS RECENTLY, I SAW ON DISPLAY IN THE SEAFOOD SECTION  SOME RATHER UNDERSIZE SOUTHERN CRAYFISH[ AS DISTINCT FROM OUR EASTERN CRAYS] AND IT TOOK ME BACK TO AN INCIDENT INVOLVING MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF MATES BACK ABOUT 1973.

ONE COLD SATURDAY MORNING ABOUT 8.30 OR SO, I MET UP WITH A COUPLE OF DIVING MATES. JOCK MCPHEE AND HIS BROTHER –IN- LAW WALLY MALONEY, TO DO A LITTLE LOOK FOR A CRAY OR TWO, IN A LOCALITY KNOWN AS GROGANS HOLE, WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL NAME FOR THE LITTLE BAY JUST THIS SIDE OF THE DIGGERS CLUB. WE’D SNORKELLED THERE FOR SOME YEARS. WELL, JOCK HAD TO GO HOME EARLY FOR A BUSINESS MEETING, AND HE’D LEFT A LITTLE CRAY HE’D CAUGHT, IN WALLY’S BAG. WE GOT IN THE WATER, BUT FOUND NO MORE. WE GOT OUT OF THE WATER AND WERE WARMING UP IN THE SUN WHEN WE NOTICED A BLOKE WITH BADGES ON HIS SHOULDERS COMING TO TALK TO US.HE TURNED OUT TO BE A FISHERIES INSPECTOR. HE SEEMED A NICE SORT OF FELLOW UNTIL HE PULLED A TAPE MEASURE OUT. WELL, HE THEN INFORMED US IN THAT PARTICULAR MANNER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, THAT WE HAD IN OUR POSSESSION, TO WHIT  AN UNDER SIZED, NINE AND A QUARTER INCH LONG, CARAPACE TO TAIL TIP, EASTERN CRAYFISH, WHICH SHOULD HAVE MEASURED NINE AND A HALF INCHES AT THOSE POINTS.  SO HE HAD US COLD.

IN DUE COURSE A SUMMONS WAS RECEIVED INTRUCTING US TO ATTEND MANLY COURTHOUSE [ I’VE SAVED MINE ] ON A DAY SPECIFIED TO ANSWER A CHARGE OF HAVING  AN .

ILLEGAL, UNDERSIZE EASTERN CRAYFISH IN OUR POSSESSION

WELL, WE ARRIVED,AT THE COURT HOUSE, WALLY, A TALLER BLOKE,IN A WILD BROWN HOUNDSTOOTH SPORTS COAT WITH A TIE, AND MYSELF, MORE CONSERVATIVELY DRESSED.

SHARP AT 9 AM ,IN FRONT OF MANLY COURT HOUSE, OUR NAMES WERE CALLED;  EVEN BEFORE ALL THE VARIOUS OTHER MISCREANTS, TO BE FIRST TO FRONT THE LAW. SO WE WERE MARCHED IN.

OUR NAMES WERE READ OUT, WE REPLIED ‘YES, PRESENT.’AND THE CHARGES WERE READ OUT.

THE JUDGE SAID’ WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY’AND I VOLUNTEERED TO GO FIRST.

‘YOUR HONOUR,WE HAD THIS CRAYFISH IN OUR POSSESSION, NOT CAUGHT BY US. I MUST SPEAK FOR MR MALONEY, HE IS A NEW DIVER, HE’S NEVER CAUGHT ANYTHING YET , SO IT;S NOT HIS FAULT’

‘WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY MR MALONEY?’ SAYS THE JUDGE.     AND WALLY SAYS,  ‘’ WELL SIR , IT’S TRUE THAT I’VE NEVER CAUGHT ANYTHING YET,BUT I WILL KEEP TRYING AND I WILL CATCH SOMETHING ONE DAY.’’  THE BLOKE WHO WAS RECORDING ALL THIS   WAS MAKING STRANGE NOISES AS WAS THE POLICEMAN WITH US.

THE JUDGE SAID ‘’WELL I WONT RECORD ANY CHARGES AGAINST YOU,BUT THERE WILL BE COURT COSTS, AND NEXT TIME YOU GO DIVING YOU SHOULD TAKE A RULER.!! NEXT.!

ASRL  NATIONAL SELECTION SERIES FOR   OPEN  MEN AND OPEN WOMEN  BOAT CREW TO REPRESENT ASRL AGAINST NEW ZEALAND. ONE CREW ONLY TO WIN SELECTION.

THIS WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN EPIC DAY OF SURF ROWING. NINE MENS AND NINE WOMENS CREWS WERE ON THE BEACH, AND THE SURF WAS UP.

THE HEAT AND FAIRLY CALM SEAS OF SATURDAY HAD CHANGED TO A 30 KM SE WIND WITH RAIN AND A LUMPY TWO MTR  SWELL AND WATER MOVEMENT FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE CREW STANDARD WAS HIGH, THE BIG NAMES WERE THERE. EVERY HEAT WAS AN ADVENTURE, THE HATS CLIMBING OVER A CURLING MONSTER EARLY IN THE HEATS.ALL DAY, THE RACING WENT ON, ATTRITION FROM INJURY AND ACCIDENT A CONSTANT.

THE FINAL RACING FOR SELECTION WAS BY THE TOP THREE SURVIVING CREWS FROM THE TWO DIVISIONS, WHO WOULD RACE THREE TIMES, EACH TIME FROM A DIFFERENT ALLEY. THE STRAW HATS HAD LED THE SCORE BOARD ALL AFTERNOON. THE MEN WOULD RACE, THE WOMEN WOULD RACE, WITH THE STRAW HATS STILL HOLDING THEIR LEAD FROM TALEBUDGERA AND MAROOCHIDORE.

IN THE PENULTIMATE RACE THE HATS WERE OUT CLEAN,FOLLOWED BY TALEBUDGERA, MAROOCHIDORE HAD TAKEN A CHECK,BUT GOT THROUGH, THE HATS HAD TO CLIMB OVER SOME ON THEIR WAY TO THE CANS,TALE HAD A CLEAR RUN ,AND WERE TWO LENGTHS CLEAR AT THE CANS, FROM WHERE THEY PICKED UP TWO RUNNERS AND A NICE WAVE TO TAKE THE HONOURS. THE HATS HAD TO CONTEND WITH A BIG FLAT PATCH AND BATTLE WITH MAROOCHIDORE FOR MINOR PLACINGS.

THIS DAY WAS VERY HARD WORK, INDEED , NINE TIMES AROUND THE CANS. THEY DESERVE THEIR ASRL RANKING. THEY HAVE THE POWER WHEN NEEDED TO GET THEM THROUGH THE BAD PATCHES AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE GUS. ON A DAY WHEN ONE MISTAKE MEANT YOU WERE OUT HE WAS THERE AGAIN FOR THE FINAL.    BEST BIG TIME SURF BOAT RACING I’VE  EVER SEEN, THE TV COVERAGE FROM ALL ANGLES, PARTICULARLY FROM ABOVE , WAS TERRIFIC.

VERY WELL DONE INDEED , STRAW HATS, AND ALL THAT AFTER YESTERDAYS RACING. RICHIE AND FLORA ROBERTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THAT DAYS WORK

An early morning start, our A Crew and Open Womens Crew.

We were in the first block of racing. The mens crew got a 4^th, a third, and a first,but it was not enough to get them into the Final. The Straw Hats were on fire and got a second in the Final to Manly, and were all off the Beach by 10.20 am.

South Curly Lamp rowed in the Under 23s division as it was a selection Carnival for the Developement Crew in this Division. They had a good crack at it and got a fourth in the Final. They got two thirds and a first to get them into the Final.

Next up was the U 19s, with Sneaky Nuts and Slickers.  Lamp did not compete in this Division as it was first Carnival of the Season for Brady coming back after an off-season ongoing back problem,  they’re keen to ease into it. Both of the other U19s crews had a good hit out, the Slickers were rowing with a fill in [Sam Allen in the bow].  After a few races , Ribs substituted Sam Allen for Sam Lowery in this seat. The Sneakies were very competitive and took a lot from this Carnival and missed out on making the final by one point. The Slickers were in the Final and raced well, however a strong West wind made conditions very difficult for the row home and they did not place.

The South Curly Girlys [u 23s] had afew substitutes also,and enjoyed their rowing, however did not get  a spot in the Final

There were 117 crews in attendance. It was a very hot dayin the tent, with not much breeze, and the sand very hot underfoot, In the afternoon it blew quite hard from West making for hard work rowing home

Congratulations to South Curly cadet Bodhi Spijker who won the U14 boys event at the SLSNB Branch Surfboard Riding Championships on Sunday 22 May.  Hosted by Avalon SLSC and held in challenging four to six foot surf, Bodhi secured the gold medal with a strong ride on a wave caught with less than 20 seconds to go, having just sprinted back up the beach and jumped off the rocks to avoid a lengthy and time-consuming paddle.  Bodhi’s win qualifies him to represent South Curly at the NSW Titles to be held at Soldiers Beach in August, and we wish him all the best at State.

Last Friday night at the Northern Beaches Branch of SLSA presentation night our esteemed Club Captain Kevin “Spook”  Moffat was awarded life membership of the branch.

This is a wonderful honour for Kevin and thoroughly deserved given the hours be puts in to Surf Lifesaving

Kevin becomes just the 9^th Sth Curly member to be made a Life Member of the Branch

Kevin’s citation at the award ceremony covered amongst other things  his many years of training and assessing in all ranges of awards and the numerous medals that he has won in competition at branch level

Kevin received his gong alongside five other recipients of life membership.  Photos were displayed for each recipient as they came to the stage to accept their award.  It was interesting to see that the other recipients had “action”  photos standing on the beach or sitting behind desks whereas the photo for our Spook pictured him taking off on a screamer of a wave.  If I am ever in trouble in the surf I know which Branch life member I would like to be coming to my rescue

Well done Kevin.

Also on the Branch presentation night the club was presented with the perpetual trophy for the Under 19 branch surfboat premiership which was shared between our two crews the Slickers and the Lamp.  Well done boys.

And to top things off our former President Charles “Chicka”  Longley won the highly prestigious “Administrator of the Year” award  for the work he has been doing at Sth Narrabeen.  Well done Chicka