ONE week after their younger counterparts claimed 17 medals at the NSW state surf lifesaving championships, Mollymook masters pair Simone Brayne and Tony Ireland starred at Redhead Beach.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In her first time competing in the masters division (35 to 39 years), Mollymook product Brayne won one gold, one silver and one bronze medal on Saturday.
Her gold came in the female surf race, where she edged out North Bondi's Eloise Starr and Thirroul's Naomi Foxell for the title.
She backed this up with a second in the tube rescue and third in the board race.
It was quite the comeback championships for Brayne, who was an exceptional swimmer in her youth before university saw her move away from the Shoalhaven.
She eventually returned to Mollymook, married her husband Rob and rejoined the surf club, where the pair help run the nippers program alongside Tony Ireland.
This coaching saw her competitive bug grow, leading to the Budawang School teacher restarting her training before eventually returning to the competitive arena.
Speaking of Ireland, he claimed silver in the 40-44 years male tube rescue, finishing behind winner Matthew Zalbergs (Shelley Beach) and equal with Simon Nothling (Bondi Surf Bathers) and Daniel Kingsley (Shelly Beach).
He backed this up with a sixth-placed finish in the 40-44 years ironman.
In other South Coast results, Nowra-Culburra's Chad Poland brought home four medals in the 35-39 years male category.
He claimed silver in both the surf race and tube rescue before securing bronze in the ironman and 2km beach run - with Terrigal's Hayden Smith beating him on both occasions
Poland rounded out his strong meet with a fourth-placed finish in the board race and fifth in the ski.