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Athletes experienced four seasons in one day and some extremely challenging surf, but faced it all with a huge smile and some incredible skills as the first day of the 2025 NSW Country Championships was contested at Warilla Barrack Point surf club on Friday 24 January. 

Extreme wind forced an early change to the program, but things moved relatively smoothly from there, despite a late condition change forcing the last events of the day – the Board Rescue events – to be moved over to Saturday. 

Some impressive efforts to open the carnival saw Byron Bay SLSC’s Jack Keough, Port Macquarie SLSC’s Stella Moore, and Lennox Head SLSC’s Amy Roberts pick up gold medals in the U13 Male, the U11 Female and the U13 Female Board races, respectively. 

The home club, Warilla would then pick up a gold in the U9 Mixed Board Relay – Kaya Sims, Sebastian Sheedy and Quinn Beaton getting valuable points for the club’s title defence. 

James Gunn from Broulee Surfers SLSC pickerd up Surf Race gold in the U12 Male category, ahead of his brother, Lewis in fourth. Meanwhile, Woolgoolga SLSC took the two top places on the podium in the U11 Female Surf Race with Evangeline Sutton and Indiarna Banks. 

In the U13 Male Iron, Kylah Hopper-Buckland from Kempsey Crescent Head SLSC went two better on his third place finish last year, grabbing gold ahead of Tacking Point SLSC’s Cooper Dawson and Dean Arghyros from Cudgen Headland SLSC. 

Ivy Mison and Lyla Wessel grabbed points for first and second for Cudgen in the U14 Female Iron. 

On the beach, Bethaney Lee and Dylan Kinkade picked up top points for Forster SLSC in the 40-49 Female Flags and U17 Male Sprint, respectively. Hayley Smith from Cudgen backed up her win last year in the Open Female Flags with another victory, and Chad Poland from Nowra Culburra SLSC won the 40-49 Male Sprint. 

The 2025 NSW Country Championships continues over the weekend at Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC, with the Masters and Opens competition kicking into gear first up on Saturday. 

Top 10 Clubs After Day 1 

Warilla Barrack Point 

Cudgen Headland 

Yamba 

Broulee Surfers 

Woolgoolga 

Byron Bay 

Gerringong 

Black Head 

Port Macquarie 

Coffs Harbour 

Friday 24 January 2025