Summerstrand Surf Lifesaving Club completed its 53rd year of successful voluntary duties at Pollok Beach when they celebrated another great year of vigilance, service, and top sporting achievements, at the clubs recent AGM and Awards ceremony.
The club proudly honoured their two National team competitors, Mandi Maritz and Carmel Billson, who dominated the awards. Maritz, the current SA Beach Sprint and Flags champion, won the trophies for the female runner and female competitor of the year.
Billson, who also competed in the Tri-Nations as part of the SA u23 team, won four trophies. She was the club’s swimmer of the year, as well as the female swimmer, junior competitor and the best U19 competitor at the Hang Ten Nationals.
After another impressive season, Richard von Wildemann clinched four trophies. He was named as the surf lifesaver of the year, the top ski paddler, the male competitor and he won the annual Pollock to Humewood swim trophy. Another multiple award winner was outgoing Club Captain, Tracy Gous (nee Barber), who was the top board paddler, iron lady and marathon swimmer. Her husband, Fanta, was the top veteran.
Luke McNish was the most promising junior and he also won the new junior surf ski paddler award.
Other senior awards went to Haydn Skinner (Ironman), Richard Rautenbach (sprinter) and Andrew Skowno (long run). Junior awards went to Chris Beswick (male surf swim), Donovan Zoetmulder (board) and Stephanie Bakhuis (Perseverance). Tanya van Thiel’s duty squad, Manly, was the top squad.
Special awards went to Shelly Nelson (Lady Supporter), Celine Gerard (Club Captain’s Trophy), and Calvin Zeelie won both the Chairman’s Trophy and the Most duty hours award, having notched up an incredible 303 voluntary duty hours during the past summer season.
Completing the top ten in the duty hour’s honours were Dylan Hugo (275 hours), Stuart Laing (234 hrs), Siyabulela Mlatsha (146), Jordan Zeelie (143), David McGillivray (114), Celine Gerard (110), Stephanie Bakhuis (106), Mitchell Slabbert (92) and Matthew Derry (91 hours).
The Summerstrand SLSC committee is largely unchanged, with stalwart Club President, David Collins, presiding over the club for the 32nd consecutive year on the executive. Brian Saunders, who joined the club 51 years ago, begins his second stint as Chairman and Chris Mowbray is the new Treasurer. Nicky Malan and Shelly Nelsen retired as club administrators after four years of sterling service and Claire Meintjies is the new incumbent.
The new Club Captain is former Mr Port Elizabeth, Denver Burns, who takes over from Tracy Gous, who switches to the club executive
committee. The other general committee members are Richard von Wildemann and Dave Rayner. The new committee will appoint other members to fill specific club functions, such as Nippers, Media, Development, Clubhouse Manager, Craft and Duty Records.
Honorary Life Membership was bestowed on Robert “Blocks” Graham, who joined the club in the mid-fifties. He won the SA Surf Ski title in 1962 and he is a regular early morning swimmer and avid club supporter. He was guest of honour at the function and presented all the awards.
The Club will host its annual Golf Day fundraiser in early October and the first SPA class has already started with their intensive training for the new season.
