Exciting racing and some challenging conditions gave surfboat crews from across the state the chance to showcase their hard work and amazing skills over three days at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, proudly presented by Your local club and hosted by Queenscliff and North Steyne SLSCs.
Competitor numbers increased this year, with almost 250 crews entered across all age divisions, including Masters.
The major uplift in crews taking to the waves at Sydney’s Manly Beach were seen in the Under 19 male and female divisions; great news for the future of this demanding but exhilarating sport.
“It was a great three days of racing, with a testing surf for all crews to manage. The standard of competition continues to increase with extremely close finishes in most divisions,” said referee Greg Heard.
“It was also great to see a number of crews from clubs that had been absent for a few years, make a return and be competitive. Sunday, finals day had some of the best racing and provided a great spectacle for everyone on the beach.”
After a few upsets in the quarter and semi-finals saw some of the race favourites knocked out early, there were some nail-biting finishes when it came down to the final eight races on Sunday.
The first gold medal fell to Queenscliff’s Reserve Male crew (Damien Daley, Louis Alston, Nicholas Hampton, William Thackray and Douglas Bone), followed by the Batemans Bay Banshees in the Reserve Female final and pretty much all of Manly heard them whelp with joy and relief on the shore.
Batemans Bay was certainly flying the flag for the far south coast clubs, with all four crews through to the finals.
The Banshees, swept by Neil Innes and including wife Tracey Innes, Donna Marie Clarke, Megan Douros and Alison Weyman were on a high after also picking up gold in the Masters racing on Friday.
“It’s been a long time coming, well a long time for me,” said Tracey, a veteran of the sport after 26 years.
“It’s great to show that a bit of age doesn’t weary them,” added Neil.
South Curl Curl SLSC showed their dominance in the younger divisions, with wins in the U19 and U23 Male races, both swept by an ecstatic Rob Lowery. The Dribblers crew of Sam Merry, Zane Mcgregor, Cody Kearney and Levi Welsh crossed the line in one of the closest finishes of the day, while the all-local Curly boys, the Underdogs crew of Zac Lowery, Tremayne Chivers, Tasman Farrell and Harrison Andrew were celebrating their time in the sun as U23 champions.
The Palmie Army featured heavily in the finals action as usual, winning two of the eight golds on offer. Stephen Cox swept the U23 Palm Beach Peastmode crew of Emily Wise, Kenya Fahey and Annika Beesley (with Jess Wise filling in for injured stroke Aysha Whyte) to victory, while Peter Spence’s U19 Puddles crew of Chloe Driver, Chloe Brunker, Zoe Elliot and Madeleine Julliard made it look like they have been rowing for years.
“The girls haven’t lost a carnival all season,” said Peter Spence. “The girls have been brilliant, they’re an exceptional crew.”
In an incredibly tight finish, Bulli Gold won the coveted Open Female division, swept by Paul Jones and featuring Georgia Leach, Brooke Dent, Sarah Hill, and Stephanie Roberts. The win was a bit overwhelming for the rowers, with lots happening over the last year, a State gold medal was a big surprise.
“They train hard, make lots of sacrifices…they’ve got seven kids between them. I’m so proud of them,” said the sweep. “We’re a strong boat club, but a family club, which is what makes this possible,” said one of the crew.
Damien Daley’s NSW titles tilt ended on the ultimate high with his Queenscliff A Rollers Open Male crew of Connor Hopkins, Chris Cunningham-Reid, James Molloy and Zac Von Appen taking out the last race of the championships.
It was DD’s second gold of the day and a fitting end to the entire 2024 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, winning for the host club Queenscliff in its 100th anniversary year.
“We did this for a lot of people in our club,” said DD. “We’ve had to juggle a lot of things this year, and on our home beach, it’s unreal.”
The referee thanked all the volunteers involved in making the event such a success.
“Thanks again to all of the officials who worked tirelessly each day to ensure the event ran smoothly for the competitors,” said Greg Heard.
PODIUM RESULTS
Open Male
Queenscliff A Rollers
Wanda Weapons
Port Kembla Pork Knuckles
Open Female
Bulli Gold
Nth Cronulla Funkys
Port Kembla Ogs
Reserve Male
Queenscliff Major A’s
Batemans Bay Team A
Bulli Gold
Reserve Female
Batemans Bay Banshees
Sth Curl Curl
Palm Beach Pterodactyls
U23 Male
Sth Curl Curl Underdogs
Palm Beach Phins
Palm Beach Penitokos
U23 Female
Palm Beach Peastmode
Avoca Beach Zephyrs
Collaroy Crusaders
U19 Male
Sth Curl Curl Dribblers
Port Macquarie Orcas
Palm Bech Popes
U19 Female
Palm Beach Puddles
Avoca Beach Yetis
Coffs Harbour Fruitloops
Surfboat Relay
Avoca Beach Team A
Collaroy Red
Coogee Boat Crews
Masters
160 Years Male
Elouera GreatMen
Sth Maroubra Weapon Vets
Queenscliff Forty and Firing
160 Years Female
Manly Moonlighters
Woolgoolga No Points
180 Years Male
Avoca Beach Blue Pills
South West Rocks Show Bags
Wanda Thumpers
180 Years Female
Batemans Bay Banshees
Queenscliff Reality Queens
Coogee Spices
200 Years Male
Kempsey Crescent Head The OCs
Sth Maroubra Scoobydoos
Woolgooga Mud Crabs
200 Years Female
Wanda Kessels
Nth Narrabeen Dreadnaughts
220 Years Male
Sth Maroubra Snagglepuss
Bulli Team A
Nth Cronulla Vets
240 Years Male
Freshwater Spring Chickens
Sth Curl Curl White Bread
Kempsey Crescent Head The ROCs
260 Years Male
Nobbys Dicko 260s
Bulli Gold
Woolgoolga Long Strokers
Monday 18 March 2024