The long-time Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) members placed third in the men’s 45-years-plus double ski at North Kirra Beach on the Gold Coast yesterday.

They finished ahead of four other combinations vying for bronze in a sprint to the finish. Northcliffe took gold while Mooloolaba earned silver.

A second Warrnambool pair — brothers Rodney and Michael Owen — finished seventh in the same race, out of a field of 16.

Owen, 47, is a former medallist at the championships, dubbed the Aussies. But the bronze was a first for Day, 49, who was rapt to stand on the podium.

“I’ve been back into it the last five years and I’ve been paddling with Mark that whole time,” he said.

“We’ve won a couple of state titles and been a bit unlucky at the Aussies the last two or three years. To get a medal is unreal, reward for effort.

“I was quite optimistic but a lot of luck is involved. 

“You’ve got to be fit enough to be around the mark, but you’ve got to put it together on the day.”

Day said the four Warrnambool competitors had trained most mornings at the crack of dawn and increased their regime to twice-a-day since March.

“It’s just generally for our fitness. 

“Between the four of us, that’s what we like to do, it’s a good way to keep fit. That’s what the masters is all about,” he said. 

He hoped the medal would lift interest in surf lifesaving among masters competitors in Warrnambool, but acknowledged the time demands on families.

“We’re definitely looking for that, but it is hard at our age. All our wives let us do what we like to do, which is good. We’re all grateful for that,” he said.

The two Warrnambool crews enjoyed promising starts in the 400-metre final, holding their own among the leaders during the paddle away from the beach.

They rounded the course buoys and headed for the finish line, but let pass two waves which dumped on their rivals.

“They weren’t too big but they were going to be too hard to handle, which proved so. The guys that took those waves, they fell off,” Day said.

The Northcliffe and Mooloolaba crews caught a break between the waves, leaving five others in a dogfight for third place.

“Overall, it’s just good for the Warrnambool club, it’s good to bring home a medal for the club,” Day said.

Among other results at the Aussies, the Owen brothers finished eighth against a high-quality field in the over-45 single ski relay.

Mark Owen also reached the final in the over-45 single ski while teenager Claudia Owen bowed out in the first round of the girls’ under 15 board race.

Meanwhile, Port Fairy’s masters’ surf boat crew emerged uninjured after a crash during their 180-years-combined surf boat heat.

The Shearwaters were clipped on the way back to the beach. Their boat lifted into the air before spectacularly crashing into the surf.

The crew included Dean Dwyer, Shaun Murrihy, Scott Hetherington, Greg Dalton and Paul Buchanan.