It was a bumper four-day carnival for athletes representing clubs on the Far North Coast, with many returning home as champions from the 2026 NSW Surf Life Saving Age Championships, which culminated on Sunday 22 February.
Over the first three days of competition, Lennox Head Alstonville SLSC and Yamba SLSC were among the key clubs to taste victory on several occasions, with the Board Rescue team of Amy Roberts and Miliani Tighe winning the U14 Female race late on Thursday afternoon, 19 February.
“Our club is so close together, we have a great bond,” said Amy.
“When we turned the cans, we knew we were in contention to medal and it was so exciting,” Miliani said.
“Then towards that wave zone when we got on one, I was absolutely stoked, it was crazy.”
On day two, Nash Stewart from Lennox Head won three gold medals – first in the U9 Male Swim race, then in the U9 Male Board where clubmate Tully Smith finished second, and lastly in a team race with both Tully and another Nash (Castel) in the U9 Board Relay.
“My amazing trainers help us through big waves and small waves and push me hard,” Nash Stewart said.
Interestingly in the Swim race, it was an all-Far North Coast podium with Yamba duo, Austin Dunn and Barry Clark rounding out the top three.
In the U9 Females, Zara O’Brien from Yamba proved the fastest swimmer in her category as well.
Moving to the Saturday, 21 February, Yamba was again among the medals with Reed Batinovic, Clarence Dougherty, Leo Dean and Ziggy O’Brien winning the U13 Male Swim Teams event, and there were more big wins to come on Sunday.
Livestreamed across the state via YouTube, there were wins for Mostyn Brown (Yamba) in the U14 Male Beach Flags (4:51:49), and Lennox Head’s Harley Dilger in the U13 Female Flags (4:53:14).
Cudgen Headland SLSC got amongst the medals as well, with Andie Prichard winning the U14 Female Flags (5:03:31)
The NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, proudly presented by Your local club, continues on Wednesday and Thursday, 25-26 February, with the Masters Championships before moving onto the Open and Surf Boat Championships on Friday 27 February through to Sunday 1 March.
Tuesday 23 February 2026