While the local clubs competing at the 2019 NSW Open Surf Life Saving Championships had little chance of knocking Newport off its perch in the pointscore, there were some outstanding results for many Hunter competitors.
After taking out the overall Junior Championship title last weekend, Cooks Hill had another reason to celebrate with Bella Williams claiming the U17 Ironwoman title from a very tough field.
“It feels magnificent honestly. I've been working all year for this and it's my main event and I really wanted to push hard. I had motivation from our juniors who took out the Age Championships last weekend, I wanted to dedicate my hard work to them because I was part of that squad that started off this new era of competition in our club,” said a breathless Bella straight after the race.
“Everyone in that race deserves to be there, they are the best of the best. It was really tough with that grind the whole way in but I really wanted it. I just put my mind to it and got myself across the line.”
Bella says the depth of competition in the Hunter Branch is improving all the time.
“My club is magnificent, but Swansea Belmont has some amazing athletes and young guns coming through especially in the Under 17s and they're backing up and competing up to do the Under 19s and Opens. Redhead with Nicola Owen, she has always been an awesome athlete and is such a lovely girl and can put on a great race. We've all done really well and it's good to see.”
The host club’s 9th place overall was well deserved with some awesome performances over the weekend from Swansea Belmont competitors including Nick Stoddart and Ethan Coates.
Nick was first in the U17 Board Race and the Board Relay and Taplin with Kye Taylor and Josh Murphy, and won the Board Rescue with Saxon Coates. Ethan Coates, Kyle Lehmann and Kye Taylor also took out the U19 Board Relay.
Ethan’s win in the U19 Surf Race also meant he was presented with the Saxon Bird memorial trophy in memory of the late surf lifesaver.
Neighbouring club Redhead recorded some good results and were 12th overall in the pointscore at the end of the weekend. Nicola Owen barely had her breath back before competing again and was virtually unbeatable, winning the U19 and Open Board races and the U19 Ironwoman, all in quick succession in the flat conditions.
“I won the Under 19 Board last year in similar conditions to this actually. It's always good to have a bit of a swell but you just have to focus on getting out in front early and hope no one catches you from behind. I was just in front at the first can and then had to try to get away towards the end.”
Despite not being in peak condition, Daniel Collins still put in an impressive performance to get second in the Open Surf Race. It was a family affair for the Collins locals, with sister Jess in the commentary box for the broadcast livestream of the event, sharing her knowledge and experience of racing at an elite level with viewers at home.
Daniel was surprised with his results this weekend. “It's been a great weekend with all the boys in the club and it's been awesome having my family here and having Jess back involved with the commentary this weekend,” said Collins.
“I think I'll have to go back and look at what she's had to say about me on the livestream. I'm sure she had a crack at my fitness and how I was performing out there but she's had a great time up in the commentary box. She has represented Australia and she knows a lot about our sport, she knows what she's talking about. She's done a great job.”
The success of the State Championships at Swansea Belmont for the last three years has the club excited about hosting the event again in 2020. Club President Graham Burge says his team of volunteers has done an amazing job, again. “It’s probably one of the best events we’ve ever run. The conditions were just right and the beach was left immaculate, which is great.
“Our Work Force worked so hard, these guys are just trojans. We thrive on this sort of stuff and people come out of the woodwork to make it happen,” said Burge.
The Lake Macquarie City Council and business partner Dantia have supported the Championships in a major way, recognising the huge benefits, including economic, that come from hosting an event of this size.
Over the three weekends and 10 days of competition, more than 12,000 people visit the region to compete or support the event, including competitors, officials, families and supporters.
Hunter Medal Winners
Swansea Belmont SLSC
U/17 Male Board Race | 1 | Nicholas | Stoddart |
U/19 Male Board Relay | 1 | Ethan | Coates |
U/19 Male Board Relay | 1 | Kyle | Lehmann |
U/19 Male Board Relay | 1 | Kye | Taylor |
U/17 Male Board Relay | 1 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Board Relay | 1 | Nicholas | Stoddart |
U/17 Male Board Relay | 1 | Kye | Taylor |
U/17 Male Board Rescue | 1 | Saxon | Coates |
U/17 Male Board Rescue | 1 | Nicholas | Stoddart |
U/19 Male Surf Race | 1 | Ethan | Coates |
U/17 Male Taplin Relay (3 pe | 1 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Taplin Relay (3 pe | 1 | Nicholas | Stoddart |
U/17 Male Taplin Relay (3 pe | 1 | Kye | Taylor |
U14/U15 2 person R R | 2 | Halle | McGregor |
U14/U15 2 person R R | 2 | OLIVIA | REES |
U/15 Male Board Race | 2 | KURT | MURPHY |
U/15 Male Board Relay | 2 | Daniel | Chisholm |
U/15 Male Board Relay | 2 | Beau | McGregor |
U/15 Male Board Relay | 2 | KURT | MURPHY |
U/17 Male Single Ski | 2 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Board Race | 3 | Kye | Taylor |
U/17 Female Board Rescue | 3 | MAE | FLETCHER |
U/17 Female Board Rescue | 3 | ELIZA | JOHNSON |
U/19 Male Double Ski | 3 | Ethan | Coates |
U/19 Male Double Ski | 3 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Single Ski Relay | 3 | BAILEY | CONNOLLY |
U/17 Male Single Ski Relay | 3 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Single Ski Relay | 3 | BEN | REES |
U/17 Male Surf Team | 3 | Saxon | Coates |
U/17 Male Surf Team | 3 | Josh | Murphy |
U/17 Male Surf Team | 3 | Nicholas | Stoddart |
U/17 Male Surf Team | 3 | Kye | Taylor |
Redhead SLSC
U/15 Male 2km Beach Run | 1 | Jake | Edwards |
Open Female Board Race | 1 | Nicola | Owen |
U/19 Female Board Race | 1 | Nicola | Owen |
U/19 Female Iron Woman | 1 | Nicola | Owen |
Open Male Surf Race | 2 | Daniel | Collins |
U/19 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | Seraina | Danuser |
U/19 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | Nicola | Owen |
U/19 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | Amelia | Ross |
Cooks Hill SLSC
U/17 Female Iron Woman | 1 | BELLA | WILLIAMS |
U/17 Female Board Rescue | 2 | Freya | Konetschnik |
U/17 Female Board Rescue | 2 | BELLA | WILLIAMS |
U/17 Female Taplin Relay (3 | 2 | Freya | Konetschnik |
U/17 Female Taplin Relay (3 | 2 | Lara | MANNING |
U/17 Female Taplin Relay (3 | 2 | BELLA | WILLIAMS |
U/15 Female Cameron Relay | 3 | Savannah | Angelozzi |
U/15 Female Cameron Relay | 3 | LILY | FORBES |
U/15 Female Cameron Relay | 3 | SOPHIA | McMAHON |
U/15 Female Cameron Relay | 3 | ERIN | PETTIT |
U/17 Female Single Ski | 3 | Lara | MANNING |
U/17 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | Freya | Konetschnik |
U/17 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | Lara | MANNING |
U/17 Female Single Ski Relay | 3 | BELLA | WILLIAMS |
Fingal Beach SLSC
289 U/15 Female Beach Sprint | 1 | Grace | Hewitt |
Monday 11 March 2019