Dominant displays on the sand and high-level consistency in the water has ultimately pushed Sydney Branch to a third consecutive Surf Life Saving NSW Interbranch Championships title at Cape Hawke on the state’s Lower North Coast.
Contesting a veritable ding-dong battle with neighbours, Sydney Northern Beaches Branch virtually from the first race – an early start for the distance runners on Saturday morning, 30 November – the two traded blows right down to the wire where back-to-back wins in the Male and Female All Age Beach Relays confirmed the result for Sydney.
Competitors braved driving winds, tricky surf and, at times, even rain on the first day of competition and while the clouds parted and made way for sun come Sunday, conditions in the water were extremely unfavourable and unfortunately brought an early end to the carnival.
It did little to dampen the mood at the presentation, however, as Central Coast Branch edged out Hunter Branch by just four points to claim the final spot on the podium while Far North Coast Branch was the best of the regional areas, finishing in fifth place.
Newly minted series Northern Beaches ironwoman, Pipi Te Pania was dominant in the early proceedings, winning the U17 2km run, Surf, Board and Ski races. In the latter two, she held off Far North Coast’s Isabella Tate, coming from the clouds in the board race, in particular, to steal the victory.
Interestingly, however, Pipi was pipped to the post in the U17 Iron – Zahra Green upsetting the Newport SLSC athlete to register top points for the Central Coast.
Emerson Leadbetter from Swansea Belmont SLSC brought her incredible form from the Beach Stormers series over to Interbranch, winning the U17 Flags and Sprint and finishing second in the 2km run.
For the home branch, Black Head SLSC’s Kippax sisters, Tully and Bronte registered podium finishes in the U12 and U15 Female Board – Tully taking the gold and Bronte the bronze for Lower North Coast Branch.
For the North Coast Branch – which finished eighth – Noah Keshk of Coffs Harbour SLSC and Kobe Halakas from Woolgoolga SLSC teamed up to get a big win in the U14 Male Board Rescue – the same race that Far South Coast Branch claimed one of their podium finishes with Benjamin Latham and Harry Leach – of Batemans Bay SLSC and Broulee Surfers SLSC, respectively – picking up the bronze medal.
Luke Drewsen, also of Broulee Surfers, was a medallist in the U17 Male Beach Sprint, and Moruya SLSC’s Zara Hall was as well in the U15 Female Beach Flags.
Warilla Barrack Point SLSC’s Matilda Liberato did the U12 Female Flags and Sprint double to bring home points for South Coast Branch, who finished just behind their northern neighbours, Illawarra Branch in seventh spot.
FINAL POINT SCORE
Sydney Branch – 1,044
Sydney Northern Beaches Branch – 998
Central Coast Branch – 893
Hunter Branch – 889
Far North Coast Branch – 866
Illawarra Branch – 687
South Coast Branch – 616
North Coast Branch – 518
Far South Coast Branch – 402
Mid North Coast Branch – 341
Lower North Coast Branch – 119
Monday 2 December 2024