Cronulla Girls Boardriders Club celebrate their quarter century of riding the waves. Picture and words by: John Veage

The Cronulla Girls Boardriders Cub has celebrated its 25th year at its annual presentation night at the Cronulla RSL Club. Formed by Sari Lokollo and a handful of like minded women in 1998 it was started some when partners of the established Cronulla Sharks Boardriders Club members thought it fitting that they had their own girls club.

They held their first registration day at the North Cronulla Alley and got 18 starting surfers with Alana Smith, Misty, Kim Lester, Lynsey Knowlands, Tiarne Smith, Crystal Smith, Lorissa Smith, Broni Smith, Alex, Jordan, Rebecca Verseylus and quite a few female groms at the original sign up. Sari said it was exciting, and the girls were pumped planning their first contest that would be held the following month at the Alley.

Fittingly the last contest of 2023 was also held at North Cronulla Beach and it certainly served up some challenging conditions. The surf was a sloppy, heaving mess but there was no other option on the beaches so it was an apt, full-circle moment that the girls didn’t appreciate whilst being swept continually north in the raging rip. Despite the tough conditions, they managed to finish up the year with a fun comp with good vibes and lots of laughs as usual. The last comp also changed placings on the leaderboard, making for an exciting end to the season. In the Open A division NSW junior champion and Cronulla Sharks women champ Grace Gosby just got over the top of multiple club champion Jazmyn Schafer with Pippi Simpson and Jasmine Gosby the top four.

In the all important Micro’s Lily Hurst overcame Billi Trouville with Mia Martin taking the Juniors crown over Matilda Thearle. Phoebe Hick claimed the Malibu top prize over Cassidy Maloney and Tayla Degan won the Open B Grade. For the past nine years sisters Kathryn and Jennifer Ward have been running the club as co-presidents. Jennifer said they are a good team.
“We are helped by some amazing ladies – Rach Whyte, Ash Timbrell, Kass Bertram and others.

“I love that we are part of a movement for advancing women’s sport and providing a place for women to feel supported and comfortable”

“Our comp days are really fun, the vibes are high, everyone has a smile and most importantly we’ve all become friends,” she said

“Kathryn and I are competitive by nature, so it has been important for us to run a serious club with competitive surfing, however we’re also cognizant that surfing should be fun and social”

“We hope we’ve achieved that balance.”

Words and image by John Veage

Photo caption: Finalists Fletch Hayllar, Jordan Widenstrom, Charlie Chegwidden,- Matt Gall, Jay Brown and Zac McMartin with organiser Dan Larter.

Cronulla Sharks Boardriders club started 46 years ago when surfboards only had one or two fins and leg ropes were a new invention so it was back to the future last weekend when they ran their inaugural Cronulla Retro Competition.

There was only one rule, all surfers had to ride a pre-1985 surfboard.

In 1978 when they first put on a club singlet Australia’s Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew was the men’s world champion and Hawaii’s Lynn Boyer the women’s and the great Mark Richards was just about to go on his three world championship run riding his twin fin.

Unsurprisingly the twin fin featured heavily on the weekend with five of the six finalists choosing to ride one. Fletch Hayllar was the lone single fin surfer riding a M’Coy classic single.

With the help of sponsor RB99 who ran the BBQ and Hairyman Brewery Dan Larter event organiser said $1500 dollars was raised to put surfers through a Mental Health First Aid course.

It was an open event but it was two Cronulla club champions who fought it out in the one meter waves at the North Cronulla Alley, with Jay Brown just edging out Jordan Widenstrom for the cash and getting first plaque on the perpetual trophy.