This Week - January 31st 2007

Dear Minnows and Parents,

Another great day on the beach last week with all the kids enjoying the sunny conditions and warmer water.

It is very, very encouraging to see the increase in skills and confidence many of the kids are now showing, since attending the Dolphin Surf Camp. Much was discussed last week about the level of improvement and enthusiasm shown by the kids across all the age groups.

As an update the next few weeks cover the following activities:

Branch Carnival

Each Age group from the 8's to the Under 14's should now be confirming their Teams and individual entries for the Branch Carnival at Sth Maroubra on the 18th Feb 2007.

I should have a Carnival Schedule for all parties by this weekend: Please deliver your final names to Warren

Parents SRC / Bronze Medal - Water Safety Team Update

Discussions were held last Sunday relating to doing a Lightning SRC or Bronze Course for parents. This is a result of parents wanting to do the course but not being able to schedule enough time over a 6 week period.

The idea is to start on a Saturday in March, then do Sunday and Mon to Friday early each evening say 6.30pm - 8.30pm then sat a;m then Final exams on Sunday.

Many parents from the Under 7' and 8's were interested so please advise if you are interested - info@coogeeminnows.com.au

We will provide you with a fitness schedule so you can prepare for the course, and also a handbook so you are up top speed prior to commencement. We'll also deliver a solid briefing session for all

SRC - Congrats to the Under 14's - message form Tom Carroll - Under 14's Age Mgr

Loughie, Angus, Pat, Morgan, Elliott, Nicola, Jack, Celeste, Tina , Nathan, Stephanie, Rylee, Tim, Tristan and Nick.

Congratulations on a terrific effort today guys and girls. In terms of your Minnows careers I guess you could say that today you made it to the top! Well done on achieving this important qualification. And for the non-Minnows, thanks for your positive involvement Tristan and Nick.You should all be proud of yourselves.

We still have five more candidates to undertake their exams, Ashleigh, Amy, Sally,Tecla and Jasmine. I am arranging another opportunity for them soon.

A huge thank you to Daylight for his constantly positive and expert training. And thanks to Ben for his training assistance as well. Thanks also to Pat Garcia and Will Bao for organising the assessments and looking after the administration.

Ian and I are very proud of your achievements and we look forward to similar results for our remaining candidates.

Australia Day Nipper Harbour Paddle - From Warren Williams

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! On Australia Day a team of Coogee Minnows headed down to The Sydney Opera House to compete along with 300 Nippers from all over New South Wales in the Australia Day Surfboard Challenge.

The event sees competitors paddle across the harbour over a 2 kilometer course from the steps of the Opera House to Blues point in North Sydney. Along the way the course passes famous landmarks including Fort Denison, Kirriblli House and Luna Park, but the highlight is most definitely the paddle under the Harbour Bridge.

The Nippers Challenge was added to the Australia Day paddle to celebrate 100 years of surf lifesaving. It was said to be a one off event, but after the success of the nippers race, don't be surprised to see it back next year. Clubs came from as far as Newcastle in the North and Shoalhaven in the South. Coogee was the highest represented club with 20 minnows, followed by Avoca from the Central Coast with 19.

The Coogee kids were keen to get into the water and snuck through the marshelling area to get onto the starting wharf first. When the starters gun was sounded a sea of kicking legs raced to the first can, and our Alexandria Simpson blasted toward the front trying to get in a good position. Anthony Vasilis spotted his dad Bill taking in the sights from the back deck of a boat positioned in the middle of the harbour and Julien Vincent was easy to spot with his distinct paddling technique.

Once the race had settled a trail of nippers spread across about 500 metres of the course. Toward the front Will Ball and Jordan Williams paddled hard for the Coogee team. Our female captain Stephanie Thornton was right behind along with little Liam Askin from the under 11's. Patrick Carroll was determined to leave his dad Tom behind who was paddling as a part of the water safety team. Further back Bethany Lovell Michelle and Peter Weekes, and Ben Thornton all were making strong performances. Grace Partridge, Catherine Askin, Kiera Fischer and Michallie Pearce were also there showing the determined attitude of our female representatives. And special mention must go to Angelina and Celeste Parker, and Emma Harvie showing how much they are improved since the Dolphin Board Camp.

As we paddled under the Bridge, Will and Jordan decided it was time to try and knock eachother off their boards, but then realised that the water is pretty deep out there. From above Julien's dad took photos. He had ridden his bike all the way from Coogee to get the best shots of the day. The girls were all looking out for the jellyfish that kept bumping into their boards, and Peter Harvie, also doing water safety for the Coogee team was towing paddlers along with a rescue tube.

The first Coogee kids crossed the line in a little over 23 minutes. Alexandria was our first finisher with a 10 metre gap on Will and Jordan who finished together. Ben was also right there, as was Liam who put in an incredible performance.

Congratulations to all of the kids for the outstanding effort, behaviour and representation of our great club. Thanks to all of the parents who worked so well as a team, all helping out to make the event a success for the Coogee kids, and to Tom and Peter for their fine job as a part of the Water Safety team.

info@coogeeminnows.com.au

Doug Hawkins
Captain
Coogee Minnows