The world’s biggest surf boat event – the Australian Surf Rowers League Series Finals –
Navy Australian Open Titles Friday 5 – Sunday 7 February 2010
Over 420 crews from across Australia will take part in the world’s biggest surf boat event, the Australian Surf
Rowers League Series Finals – Navy Australian Open Titles at City Beach, Wollongong on the weekend of
February 5-7.
At the end of the day the event it is about the people rowing like Matthew Collins from Bungan SLSC who started
at age 13 and is the oldest rower at his club at 42. Matthew has won the ASRL Open 3 times and come second
and third. He also sweeps for his son Tim in the under 23 crew.
Surfboat legend Mark "Mo" Owens from Currumbin SLSC has three decades of experience and has won 2 Gold
medals in the Open Men as a rower and other medals as a sweep.
Palm Beach SLSC NSW will have the most number of crews and competitors from the one club at the event.
A media briefing will take place on City Beach at 11.15am tomorrow.
Bert Hunt, President, The Australian Surf Rowers Association and Navy Commander Rod Harrod are available for
interview by contacting Darren Saffin on 0411 089 209.
For number of teams from each state or a complete list of teams please email Darren.saffin@gpyr.com.au.
Navy is proud to be naming rights sponsor of this iconic Australian sport.
The Australian Surf Rowers League was born in New South Wales in 1992 as the International League of
Australian Surfboat Rowers Inc. (ILOR) and currently has over 3,000 members from over 260 clubs making up over
450 crews.
The 2009-10 Australian Surf Rowers League Series consists of 28 races across every state and Territory of Australia
from October 2009 to February 2010 and are held on some of the country’s premier beaches.
As in surf rowing, teamwork is very important to how the Navy operates, along with fitness. This alliance aims to
increase public understanding of Navy and the importance of its values to each member – ‘the team works.
For information about a job in the Navy, log on to defencejobs.gov.au or call 13 19 01.
Media Contacts:
Darren Saffin or Jodie Artis
Darren.saffin@gpyr.com.au or 0411 089 209 Jodie.artis@gpyr.com.au or 0414 699 186
Malcolm Grieve, DFR 0409 603 684
Defence Public Affairs (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
