WERRI WARRIORGROUP 5

WERRI WARRIORGROUP 4

WERRI WARRIORGROUP 3

WERRI WARRIOR GROUP 2

WERRI WARRIOR GROUP 1

KIAMA SENIOR OZTAGWEDNESDAY MIXED CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUEBUNCH OF BRICKS VS HIPSHAKERS

KIAMA KINGFISHERSGROUP 7

KIAMA KINGFISHERS GROUP 6

KIAMA KINGFISHERSGROUP 5

KIAMA KINGFISHERS GROUP 4

KIAMA KINGFISHERS GROUP 3

KIAMA KINGFISHERSGROUP 2

KIAMA KINGFISHERSTWILIGHT MEETING GROUP 1

12 teams competed in the third annual Gongmana Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Kiama on 7 and 8 December with Wollongong based team ‘Angela’s Primary’ ultimately coming out as victors.It was a crisp and sunny weekend, beautiful weather to watch a shiny white disk float through the air from player to player at Kiama’s Showground and Chittick Oval.Players in action at the Gongmana Tournament. Source: Brian Scott.Ultimate frisbee enthusiast and Kiama local Stefan Goecke, who both participated on the day and helped organise, says the weekend was a success.“It was a great two days. 12 teams entered mostly from the area, but one team came all the way from Perth and we all had such a great time,” says Goecke.For those that don’t know, ultimate frisbee is played on a long field with two end zones at each end. The frisbee is passed between players as they try to score in their own end zone.Goecke says that one of the best parts of the sport, and the thing that sets it apart from the others, is that there is no referee or umpire. The players on the field make the calls and come to a decision together.“It’s a sport where the people on the field have to make a decision between themselves. It is a non contact sport and somehow it works. In my 40 years of experience, there have only been a handful of times where it has been unpleasant,” says Goecke. “There’s seldom big arguments. Just recently my wife and I played in Portugal at the beach world championships and even there, there are very few arguments. People get on the field knowing that there is no referee. So everyone knows what they’re getting into so there’s a different mindset for all the players.”A player catching a frisbee at the Gongmana Tournament. Source: Brian Scott.Goecke first played the sport 40 years ago when he lived in Germany - and has never looked back.Goecke is confident that the tournament will be back again for another year and also urges anyone who would be interested in getting involved to join a group who meets at Kendalls beach every Sunday at 4pm - simply turn up and play!

Seven days, 198kms, rowing from Batemans Bay to Eden - The George Bass Marathon is not for the faint of heart. And for ten locals all above the age of 40, their hearts couldn’t be further from faint.Competing in the Men's Veterans Surf Boats event, the ten rowers representing Kiama will tackle distances ranging from 19 to 36 km each day, starting on 29 December and finishing on 4 January.The crew consists of 8 rowers - Evan Westlake (56), Ian Backhouse (65), Alan Swan (56), Matthew Barnes (47), Dave Selby (57), Nathan McInerny (41), Martin Walker (51) and Ben George (48) - as well as a sweep - Steven Swain (79) - and super reverse Reece Gregory (41).Ian Backhouse is the boat captain and Secretary of Kiama SLSC, and he says that the effort and commitment of the crew has been sensational."These guys have made an awesome commitment to a really intense training regime over the past five months, and it's a real credit to them," says Backhouse.The crew began training in the last weekend of June, initially on the rowing machine in the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) clubhouse. But as the weather has warmed up, they have started to train at Minnamurra River and are now rowing out at sea from Kiama Harbour.The surf boat only allows for four rowers and one sweep at a time, and to give the guys a break they swap over every 20 minutes or so. This involves a complicated maneuver, of the current crew jumping out of the boat, and the other crew jumping in, in deep water. Backhouse says training for this part of the race is essential.“That's where the race could be won and lost simply through transitions. If you're having trouble getting people in and out of the boat, that slows the boat down enormously,” says BackhouseThe 2024-25 race will be Backhouse’s second George Bass Marathon and he says the first time he did it was probably the hardest thing he’s ever done.“I think it’s the hardest thing I've ever done because it's seven days in a row. The first day is 31kms (the second longest leg) and you're exhausted, right? And your body thinks, how did I survive that? And you survive it, and your body does it, and it's all in your head,” says Backhouse.“Basically, you just tell your body to get on with it. Even though you think you're going to break, you can go beyond that and still function as a human being, and still be effective in the boat. And you learn that about yourself, which is quite a remarkable realisation.”So, why come back for a second time? Backhouse says the challenge of the race is what brought him back again. The feeling of accomplishing something so great with a bunch of good mates who are all qualified surf life savers - is an unmatched feeling.“It makes you feel so good. And that level of fitness is remarkable in terms of how positive that is for mental health. I've struggled with mental health issues in the past, and I know that when I'm really, really working hard, that's the happiest I'm going to be. You haven't got time to think about mistakes you might have made, or dwell on issues that might seem over important or not. You've got a job to do, and you're doing it for the other members of the crew,” says Backhouse.“And it's just a really beautiful sport for that reason. The other thing is, I was no good at individual sports. I didn't have that sort of internal drive to keep myself honest about what I needed to do physically. But if I'm in a boat crew, I can’t let the other people down, and I can't let myself do that. It's remarkable, and that builds really strong relationships.”Another part of the George Bass Marathon is the surf ski event over the same course. Peter Gallagher is entered in the surf ski representing Kiama.Backhouse also expressed his gratitude to Ray White Real Estate and Kiama Lions Club for their financial support of the Surf Boat Rowing Program at Kiama SLSC off the ground. He would also like to mention and give a thank you to Boab Commercial Marine for supplying them with their support boat which will be skippered by David Griffin who is currently the Junior Activities Coordinator (Nippers) at Kiama SLSC.The Bugle wishes the Kiama crew the best of luck as they take on this incredible challenge.

GONGMANA ULTIMATE FRISBEE TOURNAMENT

Gerringong’s Lucy Darragh was officially ranked the number one under-16 female surfer in Australia after her efforts at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, held from November 25 to December 1.The 14-year-old was trying to put rankings out of her head as she surfed at the Junior Surfing Titles, but after winning her semi-final heat and advancing to the final, her mother couldn’t resist telling her that she had already secured the top spot.“I just wanted to surf my heats without having too much pressure about where I placed in the rankings. After I won my semi-final heat, my Mum told me that I had won the rankings by getting through that heat,” says Lucy.Although she didn’t win the final, losing to Olive Hardy by 2.29 points, she had already done enough to guarantee first position overall.“I was disappointed not to take the win in Nationals, but overall, I was still stoked,” says Lucy.The event was held in Wollongong, which is almost home for Lucy, and she was grateful for the added support from her local community.Some young Lucy Darragh fans. Source: Aaron Hughes/Surfing Australia.“I felt so lucky to be competing so close to home and have so many people from my local boardriders being able to come and support me on the beach. It was really good not having to travel so far as we usually do for comps,” says Lucy.Lucy announced her major achievement on Instagram, where she received a congratulatory message from Gerringong surfing royalty, Sally Fitzgibbons - a moment Lucy was thrilled about.“Sally is one of my biggest role models because she is a nice person and an incredible surfer. I'm honoured to be recognised by her as she is such a famous name in surfing and one of my favorite female surfers,” says Lucy.Lucy ripping it up in the Aussie titles. Source: Aaron Hughes/Surfing Australia.The number-one ranking means that Lucy will represent Australia at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Titles. She has also been nationally identified by both Surfing Australia and the ISA for 2025, making next year a significant one in her career.“It is an honour to be nationally identified by Surfing Australia, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. With the help of the Surfing Australia coaches, one of my goals is to improve the weaknesses in my surfing,” says Lucy.“I want to work on airs, backhand barrel riding, and my rail game in 2025. Another big goal I want to accomplish is to get a medal at World Juniors next year.”Lucy’s 2024 has been outstanding. She won the U16 title at the 2024 Billabong Occy Grom Comp and at Taj’s Small Fries event in Western Australia. She also placed equal third at the World Surf League Junior Pro event, competing against surfers much older than her.The Bugle can’t wait to see what she does in 2025.

KIAMA MEN'S BASKETBALLGRAND FINALBRAKERS 32 d BRICK LAYERS 20

KIAMA WOMEN'S BASKETBALLGRAND FINALAIR BALLERS 37 d TIMMS ROOFING 33