Comp Team Success at Leo

The east coast clubs host only a minority of the LSV carnivals, so when Pt Leo was allocated an event, we took the opportunity to support our peninsula neighbour and promote the day to both our existing and newer team members.

The focus of the February carnival was swim events. The day kicked off with the 2km Ocean Swim — an Aussies Championship event that isn’t hosted very often in Victoria. Our strength in recent years has been our swimmers, and they didn’t disappoint. Archer Larke took overall line honours, with Mackie Hunter winning the women’s division and finishing third overall. Newly recruited to the Masters team, Sally Gentle took home the pennant in her division.

Down in the beach arena, the Masters were back for the beach events of their championships, racing alongside the youth and senior beach competitors. We had four new competitors from our Frankston High School member cohort. Sam Burgess and Wei-Lin Chung backed up their performances at Club Champs with pennant-winning efforts on the sand. Sam and Archer then returned to the club tent before heading back out for the ocean events, competing in the board and board relay.

Katie Kerr made a comeback from her nipper glory days to join Mackie, Bellsy and Mia, taking out the Women’s Surf Teams pennant. A new event, the mixed swim relay, was marshalled just as Archer Larke was leaving the beach. Not wanting to let the team down, he borrowed bathers, a cap and goggles for one final swim around the string of nine.

The final event of the day was the double ski. Charlie and Gabe Cornwell paddled strongly to take home multiple wins, jumping on the Dave Flockart to claim the men’s event. They then backed it up with Mack Hunter and Cha Mahon racing in the mixed double.

The focus of the day was enjoyment. The team relaxed in the club tent between races, handled craft for each other, and had an all-round successful day in preparation for Vic Champs in two weeks’ time.