ADCO Sports Excellence Scholarship recipient Jasmine Rayward was crowned top female competitor at last week’s Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at Kirra Beach.
Although an outstanding feat, she could probably thank the constant threatening presence of fellow Bondy Cyra Bender for pushing her all the way.
Rayward (representing Burleigh Heads-Mowbray Park SLSC) picked up an astounding five gold medals with wins in the U19 Ironwoman, the Taplin Relay, Rescue Tube, Surf Ski Relay and Double Ski races.
Bender (Northcliffe SLSC) was never too far behind, though. She claimed gold in the Surf Race and Surf Teams Race.
2024 ADCO Scholar Claudia Bailey also took home a gold of her own in the highly contested Open Women’s Ski Relay.
“Aussies was the perfect end to my season and finish to my racing as an U19,” Rayward said.
“My club, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, had some really great achievements, and I ended up as the female competitor of the carnival which was awesome and completely unexpected.
“I’m so happy with my results and had such a great time racing. I’m looking forward to next season.”
There won’t be much time for Rayward to rest on her laurels. She, Bailey, and Bailey’s twin sister Alyssa will go straight into an Australian sprint kayak camp. All three were selected in the national team which will travel to Portugal to compete in July.
Bond University has a proud history in surf lifesaving with alumni such as Corey Taylor, Joe Collins, and Harriet Brown dominant figures in the sport over recent years.
And now the university is ushering in a new era with Rayward, Bender and the Bailey sisters training alongside fellow surf-lifesaving students Savannah Voigt, Morgan Trinca, Archie Vernon, and Will Savage.
Bond University Director of Sport, Mike Collins, said he was thrilled by the efforts of the Bull Sharks contingent.
“The highlight of the Aussies for me was seeing two Bondies Jasmine Rayward and Cyra Bender going head-to-head and trading medals in the U19s,” said.
“The future is definitely bright for these two incredible athletes.”
It was a fairytale ending to a successful career for Bull Shark swim squad member Georgia Fitzsimons (nee Miller), who took home five gold medals at the Aussies and wrapped up Super Sunday by taking out her fourth Ironwoman race to break legend Karla Gilbert’s record.
Bond’s Director of Swimming and Fitzsimmons’ swimming coach, Kyle Samuelson was delighted.
“I am really super proud and glad she got to go out on that note because I think being one of the best of all time and she deserves to retire like that,” Samuelson said.
Bond’s Surf Swimming Squad was successful over the week with Alistair Day and Callum Brennan finishing 1st and 3rd respectively in the Men’s Ironman final and Naomi Scott and Lana Rodgers finishing 2nd and 4th respectively in the Women’s Ironwoman final.