Meet one of the nation’s oldest surfboat crews, a veteran oarsome foursome so long in the tooth they joke they are unsure whether they are “taking a stroke or having one’’.
The Alexandra Headland crew call themselves The Expendables, but are anything but.
The inspirational team competes against “the youngsters’’ in the over 240s (a collective age bracket), but qualify for the over 260s (average age 65). This will contain more depth once interstate crews are added at the Australian Championships, to be held on the Sunshine Coast next April.
The Expendables (pictured below in action) were among 92 crews from throughout Queensland to enjoy a massive day of racing in the Navy Series carnival at Mooloolaba on Saturday where conditions were challenging due to choppy seas whipped up by strong north-easterly winds.
They finished fourth in the final behind the Maroochydore Old Boys, Mooloolaba Wombats and Alexandra Headland 240 Brass Monkeys. Another another pin-up for longevity in the sport, Coolum Beach (also over 260), competed in the earlier rounds.
The Alex Expendables comprise John Lawrance, 75, John Peterson, 70, Pat Watt, 63, and the pup of the crew, Paul Campbell, 60. Their sweep on the weekend was champion helmsman Steve Davies.
“John (Lawrance) is so old we don’t know if he’s taking a stroke or having one,’’ his crewmates joked when they were asked their ages.
Lawrance (below), a retired airport manager for Qantas, said he took up the sport aged 55 and loved the camaraderie built on a team ethic and excitement of the ocean.
“It’s a compact group that has to perform together. We all depend on one another,’’ he said.
There’s only one place for adrenaline junkie Peterson and that’s in the most dangerous position in the boat – bow.
He owns a motorcycle shop – Pro Motorcycles – in Brisbane and has a passion for adventure.
“I love fast bikes and rowing boats in big surf,’’ Peterson said.
Crewmate Watt, a senior engineer with Virgin based in Brisbane, said he enjoyed the physical challenge.
“I have a hockey background and like rowing but find that being in the surf is much more fun than doing it on flat water,’’ he said.
Campbell, a manager at an earthmoving business and former police officer, also loves the challenge and his family association with surf lifesaving.
Alexandra Headland’s boat captain Davies said the Expendables were an inspirational bunch who always had good advice for the younger crews coming through.
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Sunshine Coast clubs produced excellent results on Saturday with Maroochydore (below), Noosa and Dicky Beach all recording victories.
Dicky Beach won the U19 women with the Dandelions, U23 women with the Tooshies and over 160 masters with The Flashbacks.
Maroochydore claimed a quinella in the reserve men with the Bin Chickens victorious over clubmates, the Meat Trays, and also won the U19 men’s division with The Force.
Noosa took out the masters 200 final in a thriller from the Mooloolaba Mexicans and Mooloolaba Special Ops.
