With just over two weeks until the 2018 NSW Envirobank Country Championships begins the excitement in South West Rocks kicked into overdrive as the event was officially launched today.
Mayor Liz Campbell joined lifesavers from South West Rocks and representatives from the local business community at a ceremony on Thursday with the youngsters keen to express their joy at hosting the biggest event on the Country Surf Sport calendar for the third successive year.
The perfect beach-backdrop empty now but on February 3 it will be full of action and colour as surf lifesavers chase medals and personal bests.
With the event moving to Kingscliff for at the least the next two summers after Cudgen Headland was confirmed as 2019 hosts, South West Rocks club president Rod McDonagh, is confident the club can deliver one final memory for the visiting lifesavers.
"We are really fortunate to have a great bunch of committed volunteers who are vital to making an event of this size happen.
“It's a lot of work but we're almost there and very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to our little patch of paradise,” said Rod McDonagh.
Kempsey Shire Mayor Liz Campbell said it’s an exciting opportunity for not only the host club, but also the wider region to boast its credentials in the highly competitive sport tourism market.
“Both the Kempsey Shire Council and the Macleay Valley Coast community welcome the economic boost the Country Championships have brought to our local economy over the past three years, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the organising committee in preparing for the event,” Cr Campbell said.
“I am confident that the 2018 Envirobank NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships at South West Rocks will be an experience to remember for everyone, and I encourage all visitors from across NSW to make the most of their time in the Macleay Valley and all that we have to offer.”
The Envirobank NSW Country Championships is the only event on the surf sport calendar to feature a full range of events including surfboats, as well as all age groups from U8s through to Masters, within a two-day surf carnival. It will be staged at South West Rocks on the weekend of February 3-4
Thursday 18 January 2018