Awards Of Excellence
May 26, 2009

The competitive successes of Alison O'Toole and Rick Turner have been recognised by SLSWA at the 2009 Awards of Excellence on Saturday night.


Alison's fifth consecutive Australian Championship in the Open Women's 2km Beach Run saw her named the SLSWA Athlete of the Year. Very few surf life savers in history can boast of having won the same event five times in a row at Australian Championships, and Alison's fifth victory was all the more remarkable as she had given birth to her son Tighe just a few weeks earlier.

Alison is also the only person ever to win gold in the event, which was introduced to the Australian Championships for the first time in 2005. Had it been brought in ten years earlier, she'd probably have won it fifteen times by now.

Water coach Rick Turner was also recognised for another stellar season at the head of a squad which won numerous State and Australian Championship medals, named SLSWA Coach of the Year.


Brad in action at the 1981 Australian Championships
With beach coach Leigh Buchan also recently named Coach of the Year at a National level, City is certainly well placed to give athletes all the right help to reach the top.

Another City member was recognised for his competitive achievements on Saturday night, with beach legend Brad Trotter inducted into the SLSWA Sporting Hall of Fame.

Brad was the Australian Open Beach Sprint Champion in 1973, the club's second Australian Championship and our first in an Open event. He won another gold in 1980 in the Open Beach Relay, and a silver in the same event in 1981. He was also the winner of numerous State Championships in Beach Sprint, Beach Flags and Relays.

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