Team Staminade Women Round 1
Congratulations to the Women’s crew from Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park who qualified in the 1st round of the Staminade Quenchers held at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast on Saturday. The crew will contest Ocean Thunder Round 1 at Dee Why Beach in Sydney on November 12 – representing “Team Staminade”. Here’s a little about the crew so you can get to know them more.
Steve Purcell – sweep
Steve “El Mucho” Purcell, the team’s sweep/coach/pseudo dad- is a very committed person, to the crew and the sport of surf rowing. So much, in fact, that when the girls seek advice in or out of the boat, he always relates it back to the sport he loves. When he’s not in the boat, Stevo enjoys spending quality time with his beautiful family, driving concrete trucks and playing fireman. The dad-joke fanatic also loves a beer and a bit of karaoke.
* Note: Thanks to Jase Bean from Met Caloundra (in photo) who was the sweep for the qualifier as Steve Purcell was in Hawaii.
Abbey Holyman – bow
The big unit of the crew, our bow girl Abbey “Stimpy” Holyman has the biggest biceps, and is a whopping 159cm tall. The little tank will take on any wave, even if she’s ‘filling up’ her pants, she’ll give it a go. When she’s not in the boat, running or trying to reach the most amount of chin ups in the gym, she’s studying nursing at university and working in a cafe. Stimpy aspires to be one of the first female sweeps, despite the fact she may have to wear high heels and stand on the gunwales.
Edwina Wright – 2nd bow
As the eldest, Edwina “Eddy” Wright has assumed the role of ‘mum’ within the crew, keeping everyone in line. Most notable for her sensational starts in any surf condition and her quick catch, Ed spends the rest of her time studying landscape architecture and caring for her fur baby, Bix. She also enjoys riding her horse, Anzac, and mocking everyone with her trademark ‘annoying mum’ voice.
Teagan McFarlane – 2nd stroke
Teagan “Tiny” McFarlane is the newest member to the Burleigh rowing squad, a country girl hailing from Yamba. Tiny had a go at the pointy end of the boat, but is enjoying the view from the engine room in second stroke. Teagan is studying exercise science at university, working in hospitality and enjoys the grind of hard training.
Sophie Holyman – stroke
Sophie ‘Shrekky’ Holyman is the heart and soul of the crew. There’s always a smile on the stroke’s face, even when the boat is tipped sideways and most of the crew are swimming. Fond of big surf, Soph is always keen on going out in treacherous conditions. We’re unsure if she enjoys it, or she enjoys her sister getting knocked around in the bow. Sophie is a self-proclaimed amazing barista and and enjoys crash-tackling people in football.
Visit Ocean Thunder website: http://www.oceanthunder.com.au
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