Old Dawgs show off new tricks to take open boat division as Albany Surf Craft Challenge enjoys record turnout

North Cottesloe dominated the battles for the whale tail trophies claiming the winners’ and runners-up slots in both men’s and women’s open boat divisions at the 2025 Albany Surf Craft Challenge.

In the men’s event, the Old Dawgs showed the Young Pups some new tricks as they completed the course in 1 hour and 39 seconds to pip their club rivals who finished in 1:00.54.

Cin Cin won women’s category, finishing in 1:04.02 ahead of champions for the past two years North Cott Impact who crossed the line in 1:06.20.

The 12km course ran from Princess Royal Harbour to Middleton Beach, finishing at the Albany Surf Lifesaving Club in Ellen Cove.

The event overall attracted a record field of 330 competitors, participating across 48 surf boats and 90 surf ski paddlers.

Albany’s top performers came in the women’s masters where Fat Gannets and Wedgetails followed Scarborough’s Scarboro Storm home.

The Gannets were just one second behind the winners with Wedgetails a further two seconds adrift.

City of Perth’s City Black won the men’s masters, their 1:01.32 giving them a seven-second advantage over second-placed HCM from Fremantle.

Just over a second split the top three in a tight under-23 men’s division, the Screaming Seamen of Secret Harbour edging out Scarboro Sharks and Cottesloe Crushers.

Mullaloo dominated the women’s under-23 race, taking all three podium places.

In the open division of the surf skis, City of Perth’s Kent Jenkinson recorded the quickest paddle of the day with his effort of 55.48 giving him clear water over Albany’s Nick Walker, who was second.

The women’s open was taken by Mullaloo’s Amanda Hunt in 1:10.26.

In the open double skis, Alasdair Marsden and Sasha Small from North Cottesloe were victorious with Albany’s father-son combination of Jason and Jesiah Bresanello fourth.

The traditional 2km run was held on the narrow sands of Middleton Beach from the Albany Surf Club, with under-19 surf ski champion Owen Chaloner and Jenkinson the top two.

Walker, who was the race director, said the challenge had been an important milestone for the newly updated clubhouse.

“It’s a centre for event hosting, post-race catch-ups and a celebration of what community service, volunteering and sport can achieve,” he said.