WAUCHOPE-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club’s under-19 ladies boat crew will head to Adelaide for the Lifesaving World Championships at Glenelg Beach.
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They will hope to replicate Wayne Gill’s masters crew who won a world title at Manly almost a decade ago.
The 2018 under-19 crew of Grace and Lucy Monaghan, Emma Eggins and Jesse Willis will use the knowledge and experience gained from the opening round of the North Coast Surfboat Series to enhance their chances next weekend.
Boat sweep Steve Monaghan said while they were preparing for their first chance at rowing at one of the highest levels, they were confident their preparations would stand up to the challenge.
“It’s the big unknown and the girls haven’t been to any big carnivals like this before so this will be their biggest challenge yet,” he said.
“They’re coming up against crews they’ve rowed against a little bit last year which were very good, but the other crews are from South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand.”
Monaghan conceded a strong result would rely on doing the basics right rather than any form of luck.
“We’re not expecting any swell; I don’t think they get waves there,” he said.
“I think it’s just about boat speed and doing the little things right like getting off the beach as well as your buoy turns, as well as chasing wind chop and runners.
“It comes back to who has the best rowers.”
He did remain confident of an encouraging result, but knew they would have to be at their best.
“I know there’s competitors in that division that have represented Australia in still water rowing so they’re up against some good rowers,” he said.