A number of training sessions are available across the season for our beach runners. Training can be held either on the grass at a local club or on the beach in front of the Club. Are you keen to get involved or would like more information? Contact our Club Administrator who will be able to put you in contact with the Club’s coach.
COACH – Tim Matchett
Tim discovered his flair for beach sprinting in the 1990s at Dee Why SLSC and continued at Warriewood SLSC in the 2000s. He has continued sharing his passion for the beach at Palmy over the last 3 years. Over the 16/17 and 17/18 season, he has achieved individual and team medals at branch, state and Aussies, but considers the biggest achievement to be growing the Masters team from 1-30 over this time. In 2017/18 he was awarded the Rapallo Family Trophy for Distinguished Individual Achievement in Beach. What Tim likes best about Palmy is that it’s a progressive and focuses on contribution, commitment and character. Oh, and Nippers on a Saturday = genius.
Tim’s 2017/18 results speak for themselves:
Fastest Man on Sand
- Bronze – Men’s Open Relay
Qld State Championships
- Gold – 140+ Beach Relay
- Gold – 45-49 Beach Sprint
- Bronze – Tube Rescue
Aussies – Perth WA
- Silver – 140+ Beach Relay
- Bronze – 45-49 Beach Flags
- Bronze – 45-49 Beach Sprint
WHAT ARE THE BEACH EVENTS?
There are 4 events in Beach competition:
- Beach Sprints
Sprints is an individual event where competitors sprint in lanes marked on flat, soft sand towards the finish line. The track is 70 metres for U8 – U14 and Masters and 90 metres for U15 – Open age. - Beach Relay
Beach Relay involves teams of four running with a rubber hose as a baton. The baton is passed from member to member. The race is run on the same length course as the beach sprint, with the first team home with the baton the winner. - Beach Flags
Flags competitors lie face down in the sand and on the whistle jump to their feet, turn and sprint before diving for a rubber baton (the ‘flag’) in the sand.
There is one flag less the number of competitors so one person is eliminated each round, and the last person is the winner. The track length is 15m for U8-U14 and Masters, and 20m for U15-Open. - 2km Beach Run
This event is run on soft sand and the track is 500m in length. Competitors run out and back twice. This event is for senior and master competition.
