All good for rookie masters

DAVID HALL

dhall@kiamaindependent.com.au

Shellharbour Surf Club veterans Darryl Glover and Dave Gollum-Parton are enjoying their new-found fame around the club after starring at the recent NSW Country Championships at South West Rocks.

Both competed in the veterans 60+ division, with Glover returning with a gold and four silver medals, while Gollum-Parton, participating in his first competition finished with three bronze medals, thanks mainly to his Shellharbour training partner who edged him out in all three.

Glover took out a gold medal in the tube rescue and silvers in the surf swim, board, beach sprint and flags, while Gollum-Parton’s bronze medals were in the board, beach sprint and flags.

Glover (62) and Gollum-Parton (64) joined the Shellharbour Club in November 2008 after meeting several members of the club who swim regularly at Beverley Whitfield Pool at Shellharbour.

“They suggested that we should join the club and do our bronze certificates and become patrolling members and compete with the club at carnivals, which sounded like fun, so we did our bronze and joined in,” Glover said.

“The social side of the club is excellent and we couldn’t believe the support everyone got from other club members at the Country Titles – it made the carnival very memorable,” he said.

Glover had a brief stint with the Corrimal East Surf Club as a 14 year old, but the lure of football and just going for a surf when he felt like it was too big a lure.

He spent many years being involved with the South Coast United football club under various names as a player and coach and is currently assistant coach with the Cringila Club, but the surf club is providing him with a lot of enjoyment and an ideal sorting outlet.

The Country titles were a huge thrill for Gollum-Parton, as his first carnival and to come home with three medals was a huge thrill.

“They could have been a bit better colour if it hadn’t been for this bloke (pointing to Glover and smiling), but it was still a great time and we are both looking forward to our next event, the NSW Veterans in late February,” Gollum-Parton said.

“In fact I think we did fairly well in the board events considering neither of us had even been on a board until about two months before the country titles,” he said.