Northern clubs clean up at surfing awards

JOEL RITCHIE

TOWRADGI Surf Club's Charles Hegyi won Surf Life Saving Illawarra's top prize, the Ted Marshall Memorial Life Saver of the Year Award, at the annual awards of excellence on Saturday.

Mr Hegyi has been one of the driving forces behind Towradgi's transformation from competition also-rans to heavyweights " they finished equal second with Bulli at the junior branch championships.

In three years, Towradgi went from having two youngsters competing to more than 40.

"When I watch a nine-year old get into the water and swim around a can 400 metres out to sea and come back in and see the look on their face at what they've done, it's a humbling experience," Mr Hegyi said.

Mr Hegyi's award capped a great night for Northern Illawarra clubs.

Woonona's Phillip Geary was named volunteer of the year.

Sandon Point's Emma Greene and Coledale's Blake Johnson shared the youth lifesaver of the year award.

Bulli won club of the year and surf sports club of the year, while Coalcliff snared patrolling club of the year.

Bulli's Brittany Sharkey won female athlete of the year while clubmate Downie Langthorne was named male athlete of the year.

The Bulli dominance continued with the reserve grade boat crew winning team of the year, while Dennis Allen won official of the year.

Towradgi's Bernadette Cardillo was the junior female athlete of the year and Wollongong City's Mackenzie Hynard junior male.

Towradgi's Allen Williams and Rick Bond shared the coach of the year award.

Helensburgh-Stanwell Park's Peter McDonald won educator of the year, while age manager of the year went to Anthony O'Donoghue of Coledale and Woonona's Bradley Ryan-Agnew won administrator of the year.