A NEW Zealander living on the Gold Coast, ironman Max Beattie still calls Kiama home.
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It was his days on the South Coast, learning water safety from the age of six, which set in train a career at the elite level.
Beattie will compete for Surfers Paradise – the blue and gold cap made famous by Trevor Hendy – in Saturday’s Summer of Surf finals at North Wollongong Beach.
“I used to come here all the time,” he said.
“We had loads of Sydney Water carnivals as a kid, but even just for a swim, I spent a fair bit of time at that beach.
“It’s pretty cool to come back again and compete.
“But yeah, Kiama always felt like home, without even realising it at the time, living there is the reason I’ve been able to make a career and lifestyle around the beach.”
However, Beattie’s allegiance is across the Tasman.
His mother a Kiwi, the 25-year-old holds dual citizenship and is a four-time New Zealand ironman champion.
Having struggled with a bulging disc in his back in recent months, it was his mother, among physiotherapists and chiropractor, who warned him about taking a break from the sport.
Beattie has only competed in one of the four Summer of Surf legs so far, as continues ongoing treatment for the injury, including injections at the base of the spine.
“I’m on the pain killers and inflammatories as well,” he said.
“I’ve been in a fair bit of pain, but I really don’t want to make any excuses.
“I was advised to take some time off, mum did as well, but I feel like I know my body and I want to compete where I can.
“It’s been frustrating, but I’d like to get a top 10 finish here (on Saturday) and try and get the runs on the board for the Nutri-Grain series.”
Beattie is part of an elite group from the Illawarra and South Coast who have made their name at the top level.
Multiple Coolangatta Gold champion Ali Day, as well as Ben Carberry (Burleigh Heads), Hayden White (Currumbin) all started at Warilla-Barrack Point.
“I train with Ali every day (at Surfers Paradise),” he said.
“It’s great to have so many come from Warilla now at the top level, it just shows what a breeding ground the area is.”
- SHORT STRAW
FAR removed from the human highlight reel otherwise known as Brisbane Heat batsman Chris Lynn, NSW Country endured the downside to the short format of cricket.
On another day where the weather had an impact, NSW’s match against East Asia Pacific’s match was reduced to five overs per team, as farcical as it was amusing.
In the end, it was the Asia Pacific representative team which won the 30-ball lottery.
And congratulations to them, they’ve proven themselves competitive and should celebrate against a NSW team full of talent.
Of course, Twenty20’s infiltration into all levels of cricket is, among other things, a means to keep the next generation and amateur park cricketer interested.
It’s all by the rules, but such a quick-fire scenario undermines the worth of a fine tournament like the Australian Country Championships.
Still, it shouldn’t otherwise take any gloss of what has been a superb tournament so far.
There have been rave reviews about the standard of the pitches and outfields, particularly after big run hauls on day one before the rain hit.
The Australian Country Championships are a key part of what is one of the biggest summer weekends in the region in years.
Having the next generation of surfing superstars on our doorstep at Kiama is a massive coup, with some of Australia’s best lifesaving talent at North Wollongong.
Add to it this week’s South Pacific bowls carnival and the Australian Indoor Hockey Championships, and the Illawarra has provided a showcase of sport.
