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Shores United they stand KP retires from competition Story & photo Eve Jeffery
Story & photo Eve Jeffery
A lone figure kicking around a football in the rain. Shoot for goal – hit. Shoot for goal – hit. Shoot for goal – hit. Shoot for goal – miss. Run and get the ball which has sailed metres past the net. Shoot for goal – hit. This is how I found 13-yearold Bailey Phillips, the captain of last year’s premiership -winning team, the Shores United Grade 13 Second Division North who won their Grand Final against Ballina and with a tally of 119 goals
for the year. This team scored more goals than any other team in the association. It had been a long hard road for the United boys. Some of them, including Bailey, have been playing together on the team since they all signed on together when they were six. Bailey has been playing with the club for seven years and he really loves his football and is ready and raring for the 2014 season. Any activity that children can do as a group, including team sports, is the glue that forms friendships that can last for-
ever. Learning to rely on your buddy on the footy field, a study group, the netball court, a band in the garage, when times get tough, when life goes sour and when you celebrate your joy, is a great part of the human condition and should be explored by everyone. Kids love to be a part of something. If sport is their thing, sign them up. We have a massive four pages of wonderful sports for kids to choose from in this year’s sign-on feature. See page 16 and don’t miss out!
Word around the traps is that local surfer, 2011 Master of the Pipe and one of Byron’s favourite sons, Kieren Perrow, is hanging up his competitive leg rope for the last time. According to his ASP profile, Perrow is 5 foot 9, stands on the board with a natural foot, loves the waves at Lennox Point and is inspired by triple Pipline king predecessor Tom Carroll as well as Tom Curren, Kelly, Andy, Margo and Parko. The Echo caught up with KP last week to see if the gossip is true. Rumour has it you are retiring from competitive surfing – was that a hard decision to make? It was difficult knowing that I would be retiring but I was offered a great opportunity. At the end of the year I didn’t have a decision to make as I was not qualified anyway! Was it a long time coming – was there a strategy for winding down? Not a
long time coming but every year I knew that if I failed to qualify and stay on the WCT I would retire, not go back to the qualifying series. I was involved for a long time as Surfer Rep so thought I would take that further once it happened. How many years have you been competing? Since I was 13, so 23 years – at the top level only since 2002. What has been a recent highlight in your career? inning the Pipe Masters in 2011. What has been an overall highlight? The same! And all of the opportunities I have had to travel the world. The experiences with my family and friends along the way. What will you miss the most? Competing. What will you miss the least? Losing... and excess baggage. Do you think you will actually spend less or more time in the water now? Right now much less as I am out because of my shoulder injury. Overall hopefully more time.
What’s next ? My role as commissioner for the ASP is really exciting and I am enjoying the challenge. I will still be travelling to most events, just not paddling out in heats. Anything else you want to add? Thanks to everyone in the Byron area for the support over the years; it’s been really cool. Thanks to my wife and kids and my family for being there for me through all of the ups and downs of competing. As with any retirement, there’s a party going on. Hosted by the Byron Bay Boardriders in conjunction with the Great Northern Hotel, KP is having a ‘work’ send-off this Thursday at the Northern from 6pm. With a door of just $10, the event will be emceed by Bruce McKenzie, Tommy Franklin will perform along with DJs, Chris Bradley and more. There will be door prizes and an auction to raise funds for local Mitch Bamping who was recently in an accident, that left him in a wheelchair.
Been watching the Australian Open Tennis? Feel inspired?
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Discover the best tennis centre in northern NSW Playing tips from coaching staff Canteen Membership forms available Tennis Centre located Stuart St end of Recreation Ground (entry from Byron St, Mullumbimby)
Contact Steve 0421 953 814 or Jeanie 0439 733 763 40 January 28, 2014 The Byron Shire Echo
Let the player profiles begin Who would you nominate from your team for a Player Profile? Email: sport@echo.net.au.
The Bay Rollers Name Jamaica Me Crazy Number 7 Age 31 Height 6 foot in roller skates! Birthday Leo Position Blocker and occasional Jammer Years in the sport I’m starting my fourth year with The Bay Rollers. Before that I did freshmeat with Adelaide Roller Derby and also helped start the Darwin Rollergirls Favourite food Really? Just one? It has to be when someone else cooks... Favourite colour The sea on a crystal clear day Career Highlight I’ve certainly had a few memorable moments with The Bay Rollers. I think resoundingly beating Toowoomba at Tropicarnage (a SE QLD & Northern NSW Roller Derby tournament) after they had beaten us a year before. It was pretty sweet. And our roll-out for our home game as the Twisted Sisters was all my roll-out dreams coming true at once! Motto If you’re not having fun, it’s not worth doing.
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