The ASRL Hall of Fame listing is complete, however there are plenty of profiles missing! We are looking to our enthusiastic members to do a bit of digging for us, and fill in the gaps below.
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1996
Keith “Spaz” Hurst
Keith Hurst known to all boaties as "Sir Keith" & "Spaz" had an extensive record of achievement in competition in both long-boards and boats at National and State level and was a handy swimmer.
Keith won the Australian Longboard Championship in 1946 & 1950 with North Bondi.
Keith won the Australian Senior Boat Championship in 1957, 1958 & 1959 with North Bondi and in 1960 with Mollymook.
A handy swimmer Keith won the Sydney Branch Junior Belt Race in 1944.
In addition to his achievements in the water, little is known of his support for the League in its infancy in 1993.
"Spaz" spoke with Ron Payne on many occasions regarding his views and the direction he thought the League should be headed.
Remember this was prior to the meeting at Manly on 10 September 1993 the day the League was officially 'born'.
Keith gave wise counsel to Ron and the Interim Committee and probably in hindsight his prophetic advice to Ron was, "Ron, never break away from the Association."
There were many in the Association at both National and State level who thought at the time that the League was a 'break-away group'. That was never going to be the case.
"Spaz" attended a lot of events, always passed on invaluable advice to many aspiring rowers and sweeps, was always at the Boaties Conference at the Aussies, remained loyal to his many friends and the League until his passing on 29 January 1996.
Keith was the first inductee in the ASRL Hall of Hame in 1996.
Keith was acknowledged by SLSA as a Legend of Surf Lifesaving.
Approaching 60 years of age, Keith rowed 200km in a small dinghy alone, alongside surfboats in the 1988 Brewarrina to Bourke outback classic and still took the time at the end of each day's rowing to pass on to younger sweeps and rowers his wealth of experience from many years in boats.
So to finish off, Keith's insight in the early years was invaluable at the time and to the future of the League and his legacy will always remain.
1997
Chris Branson
Bill Clymer
Ron Davidson
Ron Davidson has been a long and loyal servant to the Surf Boat Rowing fraterntity initally in Sydney but for the majority of his time with the South Eastern Corner of Queensland.
His list of credits are far to vast to list here but do include National championships as a Sweep in the Junior, Open and Reserve Ranks. Ron has also given loyal service to the Tallebudgera SLSC as their Captain for 8 years and has been a S.L.S. Australian Surf Boat Inspector for QLD for over 30 years now. Well done Ron you are truly one of the Sports gems.
Keith Hodgson
Keith "Hottie" Hodgson joined Point Lonsdale in 1959 and took over sweeping the Open crew in 1962. The crews came 2nd in 1963, won at Scarboro in 1965 and 5th in 1966. Hottie swept Lnsdale crews until the mid 90's. He hs been an official at Victorian carnivals and Australian Chamionships for over 30 years and his intrictae knowledge and interpretation of the rule book is used in protests.
Ross Jorgensen
Kim Marsh
Bob Miles
Bob Miles was born and raised in Manly on Sydney's Northern Peninsula. He was a Master Craftsmen in Timber Boatsand leanrt his trade as a shipwright at Sydney's Garden Island dockyards.
He started out building yachts and built them right up until 1979, when he built "Team Spirit" for the North Cronulla Surf Club. This boat won a gold medal a remarkable achievement from a man who had only built one surf boat. Over time Bob built boats for Sydney clubs including Queenscliff, Warriewood and Dee Why, other states also had the benefit of Bob's skill with Lorne and Coolum also rowing Bob Miles Boats. Boats constructed by Bob Miles have notched up State, Australian and World Titles and he is certainly a worthy entrant into the ASRL Hall of Fame.
Ken Murray
Ken Murray has been in and around Surf Boats his whole life, he has no less than 5 life memberships one of which is to Surf Life Saving Australia. He is a member of the NSW Hall of Champions and has a place in the Hunter Region of NSW Hall of Fame.
Ken achievements in the sport include 9 first placing's at Australian Championships, twice a member of Australian Teams and 29 NSW Surf Boat finals in Seniors and Junior Ranks.
Roger Ninham (dec)
Ron Payne
Kevin “Lofty” Richardson
Lofty has had an outstanding career as both an oarsman and sweep. He joined Maroochydore in September 1963. He went on to compete at forty-four (44) National Championships in a row in open division competition. He is a Life Member of Maroochydore and following in the footsteps of mentor Graham Ashton was Boat Captain for fifteen seasons in a row 1976 and 1990. He was club captain in the 1984 -85 season.
He was the recipient of an Australian Sports medal in 2000. He also ventured into surf boat building having acquired patents from one of the pioneers of surf boat building in Claude Boyd.
The evolution of the Boyd Surf Boat linked closely to the success of Maroochydore in Surf Boat rowing.
Lofty's record is as follows:-
As a Rower
1966 - Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
1969 - Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
1973 - Open Boat Race Championship of Australia 2nd Place
1974 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
As a Sweep
1978 - Reserve Grade Boat Championship of Australia 3rd. Place
1980 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
1981 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
Reserve Grade Boat Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
1981 - Junior Boat race Championship of Australia 1st. Place
1982 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
1983 - Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Australia 3rd. Place
1984 - Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
1985 - Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
1986 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
1987 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
Reserve Grade Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
Junior Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st Place
1988 - Boat Race Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
1992 - Under 18 Surf Boat Championship of Australia 1st. Place
Reserve Grade Surf Boat Championship of Australia 2nd. Place
1999 - Under 18 Surf Boat Championship of Queensland 1st. Place
2001 - Under 21 Surf Boat Championship of Australia 3rd. Place
2001 - Open Women's Surf Boat Championship of Queensland 2nd. Place
2002 - Under 21 Surf Boat Championship of Australia 2nd. Place
2004 - Reserve Grade Surf Boat Championship of Australia 2nd. Place
Lofty has also collected numerous Branch, State, National and world Title medals in masters competition
Robert Walsh
Competed from 1972 -1986 in Surf Boat.- Won 4 Open National Surf Boat Titles - 1977, '79, '80, '81 and 2nd in 1978
- Won Australian Non Championship 1975 and 3rd in 1976
- Won 2 NSW State Titles in 1973, '79
- Winner of numerous Branch and Metropolitan Titles and various medals
- Won World Title 1983 in Hawaii
- Selected as a member of 2 Australian National Teams in Trans Tasman Test Series against New Zealand 1980 and 1982
- Selected in 3 NSW State Teams 1979, '80, '82
- Selected in 4 Manly Warringah Branch Teams to contest Inter Branch Championships.
- Inducted into the (ASRL) Australian Surf Rowers League Hall of Fame 1997
- Presented with Award of Excellence from SLSA in March 2005
1998
Nick Dixon (dec)
Peter "Mick" Ellercamp
Club: Caves Beach SLSC
Australian Championship record
- Open Boat: 3 x first, 3 x 3rd
- Masters: 2 x first, 2 x 2nd,1 x 3rd
Interstate Championships
- Open Boat: 8 x first, 4 x 2nd
NSW Championship Record
- Open Boat: 9 x first, 3 x 3rd
- Masters: 3 x 2nd
- U21 men’s Boat: 1 x first
World Championship Record
- Masters: 1 x first, 3 x 2nd
Australian Surf Life Saving Representative Teams
- 3 tests vs Sth Africa
NSW Surf Life Saving Representative Teams
- 5 x times
Newcastle/ Hunter Surf Life Saving Representative Teams
- 6 x times (possibly more?)
Newcastle/ Hunter Championships
Too many to list, and honestly he cannot remember
Other Information
- Life Member Caves Beach SLSC
- Life Members Newcastle/Hunter Surf Life Saving Branch
- Life Member Surf Life Saving NSW
- Represented Australia in a marathon across the Cook Strait in NZ, (North Island to the South), 22 miles
- 25 service badge to SLSA
- 50 service badge to SLSA
Russ Jones
Alexander Norton
1999
George Challis (dec)
George Challis joined Cronulla as a probationary member in 1935. He won junior belt championships in 1937-38. He went on to hold several administrative positions within the Club and enlisted in the Army in 1943.
On his return from war service, George’s interest turned to surf boats. He became one of the greatest surf boat sweeps in the history of the Association bringing to the Club between 1949 – 1955 three Australian titles including the senior junior double in 1950-1951.
Elected a life member of Cronulla in 1953, George retired from competition in 1955 and became Club president in 1957 for two seasons. He also served as a surf boat inspector for 15 years with the Sydney Branch and was National Council surf craft advisor for many years.
George Challis was awarded an SLSA Certificate of Merit in 1948 after he and North Cronulla member Jim Peryman performed a successful rescue at the infamous “Alley”.
He was awarded life membership of the Sydney Branch in 1973. He set high standards whether it was as an administrator, a lifesaver or as a sweep at the back of a hardworking boat crew.
The death of George Robert Melrose Challis in September 1982 brought an end to a life devoted to surf life saving and to the Cronulla SLSC. He had excelled as the complete all rounder, an administrator, Lifesaver and competitor.
As much as anything else, he was one of Cronulla’s favourite sons.
Robert Fulton
Bob Fulton joined the Warriewood Surf Club in 1969 and began rowing Surf Boats in 1970. His list of achievements is formidable and they include but are not limited to:
- 1st Australian Open Boat Championships - 1977,79,81
- 1st Australian Reserve Boat Championships - 1980
- 1st NSW Open Boat Championship - 1973,79
- Aus Team Member Trans Tasman Test - 1980,82
- 1st World Inter Club Championship - 1983
Kevin “Bluey” Myers
Kevin "Bluey" Myers joined the Freshwater Surf Club in 1949, he offically started rowing boats in the 53/54 season. It was to be from this point he never looked back, competing in a total of 18 Australian Boat Finals with 4 wins, and numerous other titles to speak off, it is indeed a list of achievements to be proud of.
Kevin was the 1st Chairman of the Australian League of Rowers and has 105 Branch, Metrolpolitan, State and Australian Championships to his name.
Stephen Swane
Stephen “Yap Yap” Swane joined North Cronulla SLSC as a cadet in the 1960-1961 season when he was 15 years of age.
Steve gained his Bronze Medallion the following season. His surfboat rowing career began in 1964 and the following year came 2nd in the U18’s boat at the NSW Championships. The same year he was appointed as senior chief gear steward and then surf boat captain.
A tour of duty on Active Service in Vietnam saw Steve absent from surf club activities from 1968- 1970.
In 1972-73 Steve was again appointed as boat captain. The following year he placed 2nd in the NSW championships and 5th at the Australian Championships in the Open boat division.
In subsequent years he gained numerous minor place finishes at state and national level. In between were victories and minor places in marathons like the George Bass and Pier One in Sydney, as well as a trip to Bali for the world championships. Then there are the various club awards including best boatman, most outstanding senior, NSW representative crews etc that have come his way over the years, the list goes on.
In 1985 as a sweep his A crew broke the ice winning the NSW championships. They also got 2nd at the Australian Championships. The following year the double, State and Aussie champions were their reward.
In 1987/88 another NSW open boat championship and 3rd place in the U18’s and to top off a great season, Steve was awarded life membership of North Cronulla SLSC.
In the years to come Steve won more NSW State championships in A’s and reserves as well as winning gold silver and bronze medals at Australian Championship level, Steve has won many awards and received many accolades.
In 1999 he was awarded an Australian sports medal. He has held numerous positions in the North Cronulla Club and has applied himself with as much enthusiasm in these positions as he has to his beloved surfboats.
To list all of his achievements would take almost forever. One thing that has been a constant is his loyalty to one Club, North Cronulla and his commitment to all aspects of surf Club life but in particular surf boats.
A good club man and a good bloke.
Peter Williams
2001
Peter “Grub” Grant
Don McManus
2004
Wayne Thompson
Born 1952Other competition involvement:
Swimming: Surf teams (Cadet, junior and senior), surf race (Cadet, junior and senior), surf belt (junior and senior). State medals in all of the above events.
Iron man: Medals in State junior ironman.
R & R: State Championship medals in Junior and senior R & R
1972 Australian Championship silver medallist in Junior R & R Ocean Grove, Victoria
Club management:
Club Captain 1977, 1978.
Boat Captain 1975/76
State Representation
- State team member and Captain: 1977, Bancoora, Victoria.
- Subsequent State team representation: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990. National surf league team, surf boat spectacular teams on four occasions.
- State representation total: approximately 25 occasions.
State Championship performances
- SA State Championship Open Surf boat titles: 12. (1977,’83,’84,’85,’86, ’87,’88, ’89,’90,’91,’92,’98.) This features 10 consecutive titles and 17 State title medals in Open Surfboat racing in South Australia.
- SA State Championship Open Boat Silver medallist: ’79, ’82.
- SA State Championship Open Boat Bronze medallist: ’78, ’81, ’97.
- Won a state medal in Open boat in all but one State Open Surf boat Championship contested.
- State Championship Veteran/Masters boat Championships: 11
- Undefeated in SA Open Boat marathon rowing.
Interstate Surf boat achievements
- Sydney Harbour marathon 4th.
- Manly-Freshwater row: 1st: 1987
- Freshwater Carnival: 6th: 1987
- Freshwater carnival: 2nd: :1988
- Sun 60 Maroochydore: 1989: 1st
Australian Championship Surf boat performances
- 1988: Gold medallist Open Surfboat – Wanda/Elouera NSW
- 1989: 5th place Open Surfboat - Burleigh Heads Qld
- 1997: 5th place: Masters Surfboat
World Championship performances:
- 2002: First place Masters 140 years - Daytona Beach USA
- 2002: First place Open Boat Championship - Daytona Beach USA
Additional contributions:
Coaching crews, organising gymnasium programs, extensive fundraising for equipment needs.
Coached highly successful 1999 Grange U/21 crew who won the State U/21 and Open Surf boat Championships.
2006
Warren Molloy
Warren joined Garie SLSC in 1955 and was appointed Boat Captain and sweep of open crew in 1956 at age 19. Swept in last surfboat race in January 2008 at age 71 by competing in the 182 kilometre George Bass marathon, winning the veteran category with the North Steyne club.
During this period Warren's highlights included:
- Winning 25 Branch, Inter Branch, Metropolitan, State, Interstate and National Championships and 2 international contests against South Africa and New Zealand. Included 2 Australian Open Boat Championships (1971 & 1977)
- Captain of 1972 Australian Representative Surf Team to New Zealand
- Author of the Association’s first training manual, which was on surfboat rowing.
- Being awarded “NSW Police Sportsman of the Year” in 1972, as a result of achievements in surboat racing
Warren is currently a member of Queenscliff, North Steyne and Mooloolaba clubs and resides at Queenscliff, NSW.
Peter Mackie
- Queensland Rowers League Achievement Award & Hall of Fame 2005
- Australian Rowers League Hall of Fame 2006
- Australian Sports Medal 2000
- Australian Representative 1992,2001,2003.
- Pride of the Pacific Australian Representative 1991,1992.
- Queensland Representative 1992,93,94,95,96,97,99,00,01,02,03.
- Queensland Representative Captain 2003.
- Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Queensland Representative 1993,95,99,00,01.
- World Lifesaving Championships 1st Open Surf Boat 2000.
- Australian Championships Open Surf Boat 1st 1991,92,01. 3rd 93,00.
- Australian Championships Reserve Surf Boat 1st 2006.
- Queensland Championships Open Surf Boat 1st 1993,98,00,02. 2nd 04. 3rd 01.
- Queensland Championships Reserve Surf Boat 1st 2006. 2nd 1989,2005.
- Queensland Championships Under 18 Surf Boat 1st 1988.
- VB Cup Surf Boat Series 1st 1994,98,02.
- Sizzler Surf Boat Series 1st 1991,94,98.
- Oak Surf Boat Series 1st 1999,00.
- Australian Masters Championships 140yrs 1st 2005, 2008.
Don Ellercamp
Club: Caves Beach SLSC
Australian Championship record
- Open Boat: 3 x first, 1 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd
- Masters: 2 x first, 2 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd
Interstate Championships
- Open Boat: 8 x first, 4 x 2nd
NSW Championship Record
- Open Boat: 8 x first, 3 x 3rd
- Masters: 3 x 2nd
World Championship Record
- Masters: 1 x first, 3 x 2nd
NSW Surf Life Saving Representative Teams
- 5 x times
Newcastle/ Hunter Surf Life Saving Representative Teams
- 6 x times
Newcastle/ Hunter Championships
- Too many to list and honestly he cannot remember
Other Information
- Life Member Caves Beach SLSC
- Represented Australia in a marathon across the Cook Strait in NZ, (North Island to the South), 22 miles
- 25 service badge to SLSA
- 50 service badge to SLSA
2007
Dennis Patison
Mel Macpherson
Mel started rowing surfboats will Bilgola in 2001 and has never looked back. She has had a dream career as a rower winning four Australian Open Woman's Titles in a row in three different seats. Two were won with Bilgola SLSC and two with Avoca SLSC.
Mel has also had a very active roll in the promotion of the sport within her career as a freelance camerawoman. Mel has put together a vast array of short motivational surfboat movies, created DVD sponsorship packages for many clubs as well as shooting for TV programs like Ocean Thunder Pro Surfboat Series, Surf Patrol and The Nutri-Grain Iron Man Series.
Her list of achievements include:
2009
BRIAN ‘WOGGLES’ MASON
Introduction and Summary –Brian (Woggles) Mason (1934-2004)
Brian Mason joined Freshwater Surf Club in the early 1950’s and soon became one of the surfboat movement’s most outstanding members. Brian’s contribution and unmatched achievements in the surfboat arena had a huge impact on the sport of surfboat rowing.
*’Woggles’ –he was humble yet quietly confident. He was compassionate yet did not suffer fools. –He developed local surfers with no rowing experience into talented rowers. (*extract from ‘The Surfboat Book’ –by Kim Marsh 2008)
The demise of the historic double-enders in the 1950’s saw the introduction of the more manoeuvrable flat tuck stern boats. These new boats meant new techniques and Brian pioneered and mastered the skills required of the ‘modern’ surfboat rower. The ‘jump-start’ technique, still used today, is an example of the innovative approach perfected by this master sweep. This along with his proficiency of the buoy turn was soon taken up by the rest of the surfboat fraternity taking the sport to a new level from which it continues to improve to this day.
Sadly, Brian passed away in 2004.
List of Championships Achievements
Australian Titles
- 1st Australian Junior Boat Championship 1961–Moana South Australia
- 1st Australian Junior Boat Championship 1962-Tasmania
- 1st Australian Junior Boat Championship 1967-South Port SA
- 1st Australian Junior Boat Championship 1968-North Cronulla NSW
(The above feat of 2 sets of back to back championships in one decade remains a record)
Interstate Titles
- 1st Junior Boat Championship Interstate 1962 –Tasmania
- 2nd Junior Boat Championship Interstate 1967 –South Australia
- 1st Open Boat Championship Interstate 1971 –Western Australia
State Titles
- 2nd Junior Boat State Championships -1961
- 2nd Open Boat State Championships -1969
- 3rd Open Boat State Championships -1971
Branch Titles
- 3rd Junior Boat Brach Championship -1963
- 1st Junior Boat Brach Championship -1967
- 2nd Junior Boat Brach Championship -1968
- 2nd Open Boat Brach Championship -1971
HOWARD CHRISTIE
Howard’s Rowing, Sweeping, and Coaching career, has spanned 38 years of non stop involvement
Competitor achievements:
- As a Junior, he won back to back Open Men’s Surfboat "Silvers", both years, whilst still a Junior, rowing bow, in 1971, then 1972 with Bungan Beach SLSC Crews.
- Open Men’s record, winning 2 Gold, 4 seconds and 1 third.
- Howard has represented NSW and Australia in Branch, State and Australian Representative Teams.
List of Open Boat Results at State & National levels – many other championship results in other divisions plus a long list of placing’s at all levels complete what has been a remarkable career so far for Howard Christie.
NSW Titles – Open Boat
1985 – Bungan Beach
1993 – Freshwater
1996 – Bilgola
2008 – Whale Beach
NSW Titles – Open Women
2003 – Colloroy
Australian Titles – Open Boat
1985 – Bungan Beach
1986 – Bungan Beach
RICK MILLAR
Rick has done it all from Administration to rowing & this is a sample of his competitive achievements to date:
- 1964 Joined Avalon Beach SLSC
- 1974 State Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 1st
- 1983 Australian Finalist Open Surfboat 5th
- Australian Finalist U/18 Surfboat 4th
- 1985 Australian Finalist Reserve Surfboat 6th W/O
- 1989 Australian Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 2nd
- 1993 Australian Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 1st
- 1994 Represented Australia in USA Placed 2nd
- State Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 2nd
- State Finalist U21 Surfboat *
- State Finalist U18 Surfboat *
- Started clubs first Women’s boat crew
- 1995 Australian Finalist U19 Surfboat Placed 3rd
- 1996 Australian Finalist Reserve Surfboat Placed 2nd
- Australian Finalist U21 Surfboat *
- State Finalist Reserve Surfboat *
- State Finalist Women’s Surfboat *
- 1998 ASRL Finalist in open boat
- 1999 Australian Finalist U19 Surfboat Crew *
- ASRL Finalist Open Surfboat *
- ASRL Finalist U 18 Surfboat *
- ASRL finalist U21 Surfboat Placed 3rd
- 2000 Australian Finalist U21 Surfboat Placed 3rd
- 2001 State finalist in Reserve Boat
- State finalist in u/18 Boat
- ASRL Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 3rd
- 2002 Australian Finalist Open Surfboat 2nd D/Q
- ASRL President a position he proudly held for 4 years
- 2003 Australian Finalist Reserve Surfboat Placed 2nd
- ASRL Finalist Reserve Boat Placed 2nd
- 2004 State Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 2nd
- 2005 Australian Finalist Open Surfboat 6th
- State Finalist Open Surfboat Placed 3rd
- 2007 Australian Finalists Reserve Grade in Perth 6th
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