THE URSLSC history book

Later in the 80’s, nippers and youngs
Bernie van Zyl, Eddy van Zyl, Brad and Grant Clinto
Hughes, Steven Cruize, Gavin Lamboy and Troy Benson grew up a
Some star nippers who achieved of the 80’s where Vince King, Dea
herade , Dave Lingwood, John Leppan Tristan Fuller, Matthew Boum
van der Venter, Luke Jordaan, Greg McGlashan. Many of these st
become famous watermen

NIPPERS AT PRIZE-GIVING AT THE NATAL
SHARKS BOARD DURING THE 1980’S

sters like, Peter and James Ingle, Bruce Yelland, Steve Kruize,
on, Denis Larkham, Garth Berg, Morgan Day, Gavin Johnson, Glenn
wee bit and became great juniors.

an Clinton, Justin Williams, Dale Vivian, Colin Becker, Damian Feuil-
man, Tregue Minnaar, Chris Bird, Gareth and Megan Bydawells, Craig
tar nippers were later poached by Durban city lifesaving clubs and

A major disrups
Army, Navy (preferably), Air Force and Police or Prison Force (Leigh Garret), only
seniors left the country in the mid 80’s, partly to avoid being called up for “cam
university, which was now becoming more accessible to the beach crowd, and s
Hoekstra remained in SA. Later, star juniors like the Ingles, Steven Cruise, Tristan
guys due to the political turmoil.

Many URSLC juniors and young seniors were hired as temporary pro lifeguar
Beach during their school holiday breaks (thanks to Steve Evans). Later in the 80
these members to patrols their pools over the holidays. The jobs were much priz
chance of being on the beach all holidays but also for the extra money. These tem
on into the 90’s and 2000’s. Many drinks were had after work on the Edge-
terrace, overlooking the old club (who can forget those epic sessions), or a l
Booby and Dan (barmen) at the Umhlanga Rocks Hotel pub (“Rub-a-Tub” or Rubb
you worked the early shift. Their curries were particularly good. Drinks on the lawn
terrace at Umhlanga Rocks Hotel, overlooking Graveyard, were also popular.

The “Rub-a-Tub” was still the favourite meeting place for drinks or a good
game of darts game; older teams such as “Long John” (Coyne) and “Small
John” (Houseman) or Martin Pretorius and Les Dry, who were very good
dartsmen, and often took on younger teams like Derek Downey and Wayne Gos
members were banned by Mrs Dups (the hotel manager) for having too much fun i
guys stopped going there frequently when they moved the pool tables into the pu
equality, but our antics while enjoying a few beers were limited with the ladies aro



















Brain Jones also got his S
when he joine
Brian first served on Rocks club committees and ran SPA (Surf Proficiency Award)
clubs). Then in 1983 he became the first Administrative Manager of SLASA (LSA).
on a part time basis. Not content with all the administrative functions that he was pe
iner and Judge, as well as qualifying as an International Training Officer and holding
World Lifesaving Congresses and judged at World Lifesaving Championships all ov
the Meritorious Service Award from Rocks (only one of 2 recipients of this award in
SLASA and National Honours Award from SLASA.

Keith Grace joined Rocks as
passed his SPA the same year. Thereafter, he represented the club competitiv
winning numerous titles in beach and surf events. He always stepped into the posi
the Rocks March Past teams. Keith was not only extremely competitive at club leve
to the bigger picture in SA lifesaving. From 1984 to 1989 he was CN Chairman and
the 80s he was Team Manager for both numerous Rocks and CN teams, culminatin
Surf Lifesaving Team Manager for the tests against New Zealand in 1987. Keith wa
to be awarded Lifesaving Springbok colours.

SALSA Judge’s Certificate in 1978. Brian’s forte’ was in administration, and
ed Rocks (late 60s) he soon become involved in committees and teaching.
) courses, qualifying many 100s of lifesavers through them (Rocks and other

Brian held this position until his retirement, but still carried on assisting LSA
erforming for all levels of lifesaving, Brian was also a National Instructor, Exam-

the Advanced Resuscitation award. Internationally, Brain attended numerous
ver the globe (paying his own way to attend these events). Brian was awarded
n over 50 years), Lifesaver of the year for SLASA, Administrator of the year for

s a Junior in 1971 and
vely at every level of competition,
ition of beltman or banner man in
el, but he also went on contribute
d CN delegate to SALSA. During
ng in being appointed Springbok
as the first club member of Rocks

KEITH GRACE

DEREK MORRIS Lifesa

The only o
member to a
joined Rocks
Morris is Umh
bok lifesaver
Morris won h
unseated the
1981-1984
captained the
National Life
and 1991. D
team tour of S
tours of the c
isolation brou
tion was at C
represent the
flags and w
Captain. In
club coach in
was appointe
self extremely

aving

Springbokother Rocks
Colours

achieve Lifesaving Springbok colours was Derek Morris, who

s in 1976 and obtained his SPA in 1977. Derek

hlanga Rock’s best known competitive Spring-

r. At Central Natal Champs in 1981, Derek

his 1st pennant as flags champion when he

e flags king, Steve Harris of Pirates. From

he represented Natal and eventually

e team in 1991. He went on to win SA

saving championships in 1989, 1990

During 1981 there was a USA lifesaving

South Africa, one of the first competitor

country during the ‘dark years’ of sport

ught about by apartheid. The competi-

Clifton. Derek Morris was selected to the

e South African President’s Team in

was later appointed Junior Springbok

later years he took up coaching, becoming

n 2005 and provincial coach in 2006. In 2013 he

ed selector for Lifesaving Springbok teams. Derek kept him-

y fit and went on to win 4 World Masters titles.

Other members

One competition that started in the 1980’s by lifesavers was the Inflatable Rubbe
endary. Rocks was represented by Bruce Brockwell (skipper) and Keith Gracie (
ceeded to win the next three and also the title of National IRB Champions. This wa
ing the hot favourites. Needless to say, this competition was never held again.
prop, which still had to meet the lifesaving safety requirements of being encased
the motor and fuel checked for “drugs”; no one could believe that the Rocks team
questioned on why they only came second in the first race. The answer was tha
what they were supposed to do in the rescue of a “patient” so they let a rubber
they did not need to let anyone pass as they now knew what this IRB racing was

By the mid 1970’s it became apparent that the ‘garage’ clubhouse behind the pro
ising and would not sustain the club in the medium to long term. The club was s
the Sharks Board. It was clear that the facility had to be improved or preferably re
ough for a new clubhouse to be built. Substantial negotiations took place with t
a professional Quantity Surveyor proved invaluable and in 1979 approval was g
Pool. Building continued in 1980 and the lease on the new clubhouse was sign
equipment storage and an upstairs lounge and bar area.

The new clubhouse heralded a new era for Rocks. Suddenly the club was high p
presence at Grannies Pool. The council also had a financial interest in the clubh
every Sunday and public holiday. By end 1982 the new system was fully operatio
for the pro-lifeguard’s equipment.

s to achieve regional and provincial colours in lifesaving in the 80’s were
Derek Downey, Berwick Drury and John Pearce.

er Boat (IRB) races. The first event, hosted at Clifton Beach, Cape Town, was leg-
(crew). As the story goes, our team came second in the first race and then pro-
as not supposed to be the result (other clubs objected!), with Keith & Bruce beat-
Kit Case had tuned the club motor and changed the standard prop to a racing
d in the prop guard. The Rocks motor was impounded after the competition and
m could dominate the races as they had done. On their return to Rocks they were
at they had never competed in IRB races before and did not know the course or
duck pass them and followed to see where and what they had to do. Thereafter
s all about.

o’s beach office had become cluttered with equipment, had little space for social-
so small that general meetings had to be held at the Umhlanga Country Club or
eplaced. The club committee made a detailed submission to the Umhlanga Bor-
he key drivers being John Coyne and Derek Clinton. Lonf John’s experience as
given for a new club building to be erected on the present club site at Granny’s
ned in 1981. The building design provided ample room downstairs for craft and

profile, no longer operating out of an obscure garage but now with a highly visible
house, the lease of which stipulated a minimum duty requirement of 4 lifesavers
on and everything had moved to the new club. The old club became a storeroom