Secret Harbour improve on last year’s performance

The Secret Harbour Surf Life Saving Club was represented by 37 members at the 2013 Junior State Championships at Fremantle on the weekend.

The championships included 900 competitors from 18 WA clubs.

Secret Harbour finished 10th overall — a two-place improvement from last year.

After a season of consistent training in board paddling, swimming, sprints and beach flags, the skill and confidence of the Secret Harbour members was not challenged by the calm sea conditions at Fremantle Beach.

Samantha Lowe and Jessica Williams came fourth in the board rescue, Jessica Williams fifth in the board race and the under-13s boys surf team came sixth.

Lauren Steward and Christopher Collins each ran fourth in the beach flags, Jordan Edgar was fourth in beach sprints, the Under 11s girls board relay secured fifth place and the under-12s boy board rescue were fifth.

One of the highlights of the day was the junior march past team taking home a bronze medal — the first medal for a march past team in the club’s 30-year history.

The team was formed after a junior member Breanna Bird, 13, asked to have the junior reel repaired.

After it was restored, Bird encouraged a team to be formed and training to begin and life member Robyn Bevan started a six-week intensive training.

The team was led by Jessica Williams and included Stephanie Lowe, Tahlia Wyburd, Faith Turner, Luke van Koolbergen, Bonnie Anderson, Megan Dyke, Liam Bates, Mary Wing and Dion Stroot.

Chloe Dowbnia, who trained with the team, was the reserve.