Sport
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Chloe stays on course Rainbow Dragons Byron Master surfers dig deep for big win make world’s top five Maria Maluta
Lennox Head professional triathlete Chloe Butt has turned down the opportunity to join USA Olympic coach Jarrod Evans and his highperformance squad in San Diego. ‘Turning down this opportunity to train under Jarrod Evans was very difficult. I will turn my focus to training locally,’ she said. The grant recipient at Southern Cross University looks to finish her Master’s degree at the end of the year. ‘Juggling a career in sport and a postgraduate degree has certainly had its challenges but I couldn’t be happier to have had this opportunity and to help people,’ she said. Chloe has a background in oncology nursing and has spent time overseas providing women and children with healthcare and education. ‘None of this would be possible without the amazing support and assistance of SCU,’ she said.
Better fitness levels helped the Rainbow Dragon boaters to a victory against regional rivals. Photo supplied Monica Wilcox Chloe in action for Australia. Photo supplied
Chloe holds numerous Australian titles in both swimming and aquathons, state titles in surfing, running, triathlon and swimming, an international ranking in triathlon, and back when she was just 18 she qualified for the Beijing Olympic swimming trials. This year she won the Byron Bay Swimming Classic.
Free surf and SUP lessons for locals
Lennox Head-based Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club came home with a first, a second and a fourth at the Coffs Harbour Regatta at Mylestom last month. The weekend started out with favourable conditions for the three-kilometre race around Tucker Island on Saturday afternoon, where Rainbow Dragons picked up a respectable fourth place in a field of eight boats. But Sunday dawned to a big southerly change that charged up the Bellingen River with gusto. Teams were confronted by 40 km/h salt-laden winds as well as having to paddle into an incoming tide.
Considering the conditions it was a significant and sweet win for Rainbow Dragons. ‘Once again our team sportsmanship, spirit and strong, controlled paddling were on display. The improvement in everyone’s fitness and technique has certainly sharpened our competitive edge,’ Club captain Leanne Somerville said. Other clubs commented that the club’s long-distance training regime was evident because the team’s race finishes were much stronger than they had been in the past. Club members are keen to test their skills and fitness at the Grafton Jacaranda regatta coming up this month.
Snowboard team win bronze at nationals
Dave and Lara hook onto a nice tandem ride as they learn to surf in Byron. Photo supplied
Lets Go Surfing are offering free lessons for locals this month to thank the community for their support over the years. ‘We live and work in the local community and have the privilege of teaching surfing and SUP. Free Residents Week is to thank our residents and to help provide access for all,’ Brenda Miley, surf school founder said. The free sessions are a wonderful opportunity for both adults and kids in the local area to try out surfing or a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) for the first time, she said. All equipment is supplied, safe soft surfboards, wetsuits, UV rashvests, sunblock and
zinc, she said.
Surfing - Byron Wednesday October 17 – Friday October 19, 4.30pm– 5.30pm and Saturday October 20, 10am–11am
SUP - Brunswick River Saturday October 20, 3–5.30pm To book a lesson you will need to have proof that you are a Byron Shire resident, eg address on your driver licence. All bookings enquiries are made via info@letsgosurfing. com.au Be quick. Bookings are essential.
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
The Byron Bay High School Snowboard team made up of twins Jarra and Kai Millis has won a bronze medal at the Interschools National Championships held at Perisher Valley. Both twins raced incredibly hard during the Bordercross; however, Jarra had the edge and came sixth overall. ‘It is an incredible achievement at this level,’ mother Sorrell Millis said. Jarra’s fast time combined with solid times on both runs from the twins put them in contention for a team medal. ‘It was nailbiting waiting as everyone knew it would be very close, but once the results were collated it was announced: a team bronze for Byron Bay,’ Sorrell said. Kai then competed in the slopestyle that includes two runs consisting of two jumps and either two rail slides or boxes. ‘Conditions were hard as at the last minute the event was moved to a lower course, meaning it was slow and sticky, making it hard for
Local Pauline Menczer brings the magic in good waves at Sao Miguel in the Azores Islands. Photo Marsurel/WSL
Byron Shire surfers Pauline Menczer, Jodie Cooper and Gary Elkerton finished in equal third, equal fifth and equal fifth respectively at the invitational Azores Airlines World Masters Championship last month. Australians Rob Bain, Layne Beachley and Dave Macaulay all won claiming victory in the final bouts against Cheyne Horan, Rochelle Ballard (HAW) and Shane Beschen (HAW) respectively in the Grand Masters, Women’s Masters and Men’s Masters divisions held in good three-foot surf at Praia de Santa Barbara in the Azores Islands.
Equal pay The World Surf League has announced that it will award equal prize money to male and female athletes for
every WSL-controlled event in the 2019 season and beyond, becoming among the first internationally to achieve prize money equality. All the Grand Slam tennis tournaments have offered equal prizemoney since 2007. Parity holds for all WSLowned events, which include all the CTs, the Longboard and Junior world champs, and the Big Wave Tour. At present the winner of a WSL Women’s Championship Tour event wins $65,000, which will be increased to $100,00 in 2019. ‘This is incredible, and I am thrilled. The prizemoney is fantastic, but the message means even more. I hope this serves as a model for other sports, global organisations and society as a whole,’ women’s tour ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore said.
Matilda wins more gold and silver
Jarra Milis gets some air at Perisher. Photo supplied
many riders to make it to the last rail,’ Sorrell said. However, Kai had two solid runs, landing a great combination of spins and rail slides. His final score gave him ninth place, ‘a position that he was incredibly stoked with,’ she said. The twins will be back in Byron for the summer but are committed to next season at Perisher, so watch this space.
Matilda has continued to beat all comers in her favourite events of long jump and running. Photo supplied
Matilda Vial won herself three medals at the Combined Independent Schools primary athletics state championships held in Sydney in mid-September. Matilda came first in long jump, first in the 200 metres
and second in the 100 metres sprint. Matilda will next lineup against an all-schools field at the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association athletics championship in midOctober.
The Byron Shire Echo October 3, 2018 47