March Past Season 05-06

The March Past section of the Collaroy Club has once again had a very successful season. The Under 14 Female team won Silver at Branch and Gold at State, the Under 21 Female team won Silver at Branch and Gold at Aussies, the Open ladies team won Bronze at Branch and Silver at Aussies, and the Open Men’s team won Gold at Branch, Gold at State and Silver at Worlds.

This season Collaroy was able to enter an U/14 team in all three Branch carnivals thanks once again to Anne Bullivant and Debra Trim who brought the team together and assisted me with training. The members of this season’s team were Brooke Coulcher, Julia Mickan, Jodie Trim, Maddison Broome, Macey Nicholls, Amelia Gledhill, Fiona Birtwistle, Sammy Harmer, Eleanor Lamb, Dana Simonsen, Meggan Quinn, and Ingrid Willshire. At the first carnival of the season at Manly, Collaroy were placed 1^st just shading the host club and this augured well for our chances in the championships to be held later in the season. In the remaining two carnivals, Manly were able to turn the tables on Collaroy but only by a narrow margin. In the new year, training was increased to two sessions a week and although we were a close 2^nd to Manly at the Branch Titles at Narrabeen Beach, I knew we had the team to defend our State Title at Bate Bay. We did however receive some disturbing news, our standard bearer Brooke Coulcher breaking her collarbone whilst playing touch football. Only a few weeks after the accident, Brooke showed enormous courage, carrying the Collaroy flag at the State Titles and leading the team to victory over Manly. 

Congratulations to Anne, Debra and all the girls and with a special mention for Eleanor Lamb who received the award for the Lawrie McGaw Most Outstanding Junior March Past Competitor. I had all intentions of assembling our U/21 team together early in the season, training at least once a week and competing at each of the open carnivals. This turned out to be a problem as four of the girls decided to take up rowing surf boats and the remainder had R&R and work commitments. As in previous years, the team did not come together until Branch and with no training, were no match for the Freshwater team who had competed at all carnivals including Warriors on Water and the World Titles.

There was more disappointment to come, this time at the State Titles at Bate Bay, Cronulla. Just as the team was about to march onto the arena they realised that they only had 11 marchers. The U/17 Surf Race Final in which Kelly Trim was a competitor was supposed to have been suspended whilst the march past was held. The race continued, so did the march past and although they competed, Collaroy was disqualified and therefore denied a certain medal.

At the Australian Titles at Kurrawa each day’s training was scheduled for late afternoon after R&R competition. Although the girls were tired, they were keen to give their utmost at training. The team of Emily McKie, Katie Birtwistle, Kirstin Coggins, Emily Mickan, Jessica Layton, Jessica Hart, Chloe Bullivant, Jenna Nicholas, Brooke Perry, Brooke Ison, Kelly Trim and Ashleigh Yardy went on to win Gold defeating 2005 champions Freshwater. I would like to thank Emily McKie for her years as standard bearer in the U/21 team and hope that if this event is not replaced by an U/17 competition, that the remaining girls will back up again next year at Scarborough W.A. to defend their title.

The biggest improvement in this section of our club came from the ladies team known as Collaroy Red. Formed only four years ago, they had never figured in the placings at any of the carnivals that is not until the 2005-06 season. The team of Jackie de Kort, Debra Trim, Anna Mickan, Karen McKie, Alison Ducker, Janine Black, Nicole Bowyer, Annette Williams, Anne Bullivant, Kerry Armstrong, Linda James and new recruit Dominique Farrell started the season off in fine style with a 3^rd placing at Queenscliff from 17 teams. This result was followed by 3^rd at East Coast Masters, 5^th at Wanda, 4^th at Nth Cronulla, 6^th at Freshwater, 3^rd at Manly, and 5^th at Coogee. As a result of these fine performances, the team was able to obtain a sponsorship from General Optical Services.

At Branch, Collaroy Red was finally rewarded with their first championship placing when they finished 3^rd behind the Collaroy Bears and Freshwater. Three weeks later at State the ladies were somewhat disappointed with their 6^th place as they had beaten most of the teams ahead of them earlier in the season. Not to be outdone they went up to Kurrawa for the Australian titles knowing they were in there with a chance of causing an upset. Coach Paul de Kort was involved with his R&R teams so with the assistance of the Bears’ coach Greg MacMahon, we set about preparing the ladies for their most important march of the season. The Friday march which is intended to reduce the number of teams for the Final on Sunday to 20 turned out to be their best result in four years when Collaroy Red were placed 3^rd behind Southport SA and the Collaroy Bears. The champagne corks were popping and there was plenty of celebrating but there were still two more training sessions to complete before Sunday’s final. The best was yet to come as this team from Collaroy created history when it was announced after Sunday’s march that they had been placed 2^nd behind Southport and in doing so became the first all female team to win a championship medal in a State or Australian Open March Past event. Next season can’t come around quick enough for these extremely talented “athletes” and if they improve as much as they did this season, it should be an exciting 2006-07 for the red caps of Collaroy.

With Peter MacMahon and Greg Falk joining the JJ Lawson sponsored Australian champion team, the Collaroy Bears, it was once again going to be a very important trying to maintain our impressive record obtained in the 2004-05 season. Greg MacMahon took on the coaching position and was ably assisted by Greg Falk, who was returning to our ranks after an absence of 25 years.

Although we were placed a disappointing 6^th in the Australian Titles at Kurrawa, for me personally it was one of the most enjoyable seasons I have spent in the Collaroy March Past Team. The following are our results for the season:

The members of this year’s team were Dave Macintosh, Kenyon McKie, Dave Perry, Mick Tomblin, Norm Chaffer, Tony Aouad, Ric Cooper, Ron Levy, Colin Newman, Peter Rumble, Peter MacMahon, Neil Armstrong, Martin Bowyer and Greg Broome.

Competition was off to an earlier than usual start with the inaugural Warriors on Water Qld v NSW carnival at Tacking Point, Port Macquarie. This was a good opportunity for a team bonding weekend as well as a chance to compete against Kurrawa who unfortunately took home 1^st prize money on the Saturday. The following day, representing NSW in very inclement weather we reversed the placings, however a very enjoyable weekend was had by all. In season 2006-07 this carnival will be held at Kurrawa so depending on finances it may not be possible to take part.

March Past seems to be becoming quite popular, with more and more clubs entering teams in the metropolitan carnivals and taking the event seriously. The Bears won most of these however with Freshwater, North Cronulla and Collaroy ladies being the big improvers, it wasn’t going to be easy come championship time. Our Branch result was expected although it was great to see the Collaroy ladies take Bronze.

This year Victoria hosted the World Titles and for the first time there was a competition for the sand crabs. It was originally scheduled for Lorne but later transferred to Eastern Beach, Geelong on the Sunday. The men’s team rented a five bedroom house at Lorne whilst the ladies team stayed in holiday cabins in Geelong. Although we were here to win the title, there was time for a sightseeing trip and lunch at Apollo Bay on the Saturday followed in the evening by a succulent sea food banquet prepared by our chefs Armstrong, Macintosh and Levy. There were only 14 teams in the march past, however the quality of teams was excellent with Southport SA 1^st, Collaroy Bears 2^nd, Alexandra Headlands 3^rd and Collaroy Red 4^th.

Three weeks after Worlds was the State Titles at Bate Bay, Cronulla and once again the middle marking judging system, which very few teams seem to like, played a big part in deciding the overall placings. On actual points lost the result should have been Collaroy Bears 1^st, Freshwater 2^nd, and Nth Cronulla 3^rd. On middle marking Nth Cronulla were 2^nd, Nth Curl Curl, which actually lost 17 pts were 3^rd and Freshwater who lost just 4 pts were relegated to 4^th.

Three weeks after State were the Australian Titles at Kurrawa Beach which had lost most of its sand due to the huge seas whipped up by Cyclone Larry the previous week. It was difficult to find a stretch of sand on which to train that being at the R&R arena north of the boat area. For the Friday march Greg Broome and Martin Bowyer came onto the reel, the result being a 2^nd behind Southport which is usually a bad omen for our team. On Saturday Greg MacMahon decided to move training south to Burleigh Heads where the sand was similar to what we had marched on the previous day. Our preparation had been excellent and we were quietly confident going into Sunday’s march where Mick Tomblin and Norm Chaffer came back into the side. As has been mentioned earlier in this report some minor mistakes made in the wrong places relegated us to 6^th place, but this does not reflect on a great season had by the Collaroy Bears.

May I thank on behalf of our team Coach Greg MacMahon and his assistant Greg Falk for the time and effort they both contributed, to the coach once again for transporting the reel to carnivals, to Janine Black for submitting our carnival entries and to our sponsor Jim Lawson of JJ Lawson Customs for his continuing financial support.

It has been a highly successful season and we look forward to Season 2006-07 with the State Titles again at Bate Bay, Cronulla and of course the Australian Titles at Scarborough WA. I hope to see each and every one of you competing next season.

Col Newman

March Past Captain