The Mandurah Board Riders are hoping to be named Australia’s Surf Club of the Year at an awards function in Newcastle this weekend, after being selected as a finalist in the top three.
The club is up for the top gong following a widely successful year, with president Brian Williams labeling the club’s finals selection as an honour.
“There are hundreds of clubs all around Australia so to finish in the top three is something special for us,” he said.
“We’re all pretty excited. It’s an honour and hopefully we can win the whole thing.”
Williams praised the club’s committee for their hard work, and pointed to junior success as one of their strong points.
“A while ago we made the decision to run our juniors in the summer instead of the winter so we could get more kids down to the beach, and since then it’s been huge,” he said.
“Our club has a real emphasis on developing young surfers and we’re really lucky to have some high level coaching staff.
“We really just want to provide a good environment where kids can make some new friends and enjoy their surfing.”
At the recent Wahu Surf Groms event in Perth, the Mandurah Board Riders fielded 27 of the total 86 competitors, more than a quarter of the entire competition.
They will celebrate their 40th anniversary next year.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
