State’s best lifesaving competitors converge on Swansea Belmont
February 24, 2010
The stage is set for the 2010 Allphones NSW Surf Life Saving Championships as the State’s surf stars converge on Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea Belmont this weekend.
Almost 4000 individual competitors from more than 100 clubs are expected to take part.
The State’s leading surf lifesavers will test their skills at the annual competition which attracts crowds of up to 10,000 spectators wanting to see competitors fight it out for glory in the water and on the beach.
The NSW Allphones Masters & Open Surf Life Saving Championships will commence with the Masters hitting Blacksmiths Beach on February 25 and their younger counterparts taking centre stage from Friday February 26 through to Sunday February 28.
Last weekend Manly upset Cronulla’s 12-year winning streak by taking out the overall pointscore at the 2010 NSW Age Championships, while Wanda finished second.
For the last two years the overall pointscore winners in the Open champs have been Manly, after stealing the title from Cronulla, and Manly will be frontrunners to secure another victory this year.
It won’t come easy though – Cronulla SLSC is home to some of NSW’s leading surf stars who will be looking to conquer not only the individual events but the team events as well.
Host club Swansea Belmont will be looking to better its great effort last year when it placed fourth overall.
The club has always been at the forefront of the competitive ranks in the Hunter Branch at NSW and Australian Surf Lifesaving carnivals and this weekend will be another massive effort from the club’s workforce and competitors.
This is the final year in a three-year hosting arrangement for the club.
The Open Ironman event is shaping up to be a battle royal, with a number of top competitors ready to race when the gun goes.
Chris Allum, who won in 2007, hopes to make a comeback. His brother Hayden is also a contender and both are current Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series competitors. Mark Simpson is also in the mix.
Last year’s winner, Jono Stock, from Manly is back again, as is second placegetter, Kendrick Louis from Collaroy.
Warilla-Barrack Point’s Ali Day is on fire after finishing sixth overall in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series at Cronulla last weekend. Hayden White will also bolster the club’s chances in his events.
Josh Blair from Swansea Belmont is sure to give these guys a nudge, after finishing ninth in last weekend’s Round 5 of the KNG series.
The big question is whether Manly’s Naomi Flood can collect a sixth successive title win in the Open Ironwoman event. Her chances are good after last weekend’s third place in the Kellogg’s Ironman series. She will come up against a tough field of competitors, including local Swansea Belmont competitor Nikki Chapman.
Freshwater’s Alisha Miller and Terrigal’s Amy Nurthen will also be hot on her heels. Last year’s second placegetter Maddison Prior from Warilla-Barrack Point will contest the U19 along with the Open Ironwoman. Tahnee Fleming from Byron Bay will also double up in the U19 and Open events.
On the beach, Queenscliff’s Laura Shorter will carve up the sand in both the Open Beach Flags and Sprint events. Jake Lynch from Newport will defend his U19 Beach Sprint and Flags titles and throw his hat in the ring for the Opens.
From the State’s north, Cudgen Headland will put forward some good competitors, including Rohan Small, Jarrad Cain and Scott McCartney in the individual and water teams events. Sawtell’s Kayla Russell and Sarah Tisdell will compete in Open water events.
Hunter club chances include Redhead’s Stewart McLachlan in the Open Board and Isaac Morgan who has moved up to the U17 events. Hannah Trypas will be hard to beat in the U15 water events. Swansea Belmont U17 chances include Kirsty Waugh in the water events and Emily Chaffey who is contesting the U17 and also taking on the Open Ironwoman event.
The South Coast push will be led by the strong Warilla-Barrack Point team. While great things are expected from Ali Day, Warilla’s Jordan White will defend her U17 Ironwoman crown and also line up for the Open Ironwoman. Bernadette Cardillo, now with Bulli, will compete in a range of U17 and Open beach events.
Central Coast star performers are likely to include: Stephanie Carey (The Lakes) who is taking a swipe at both the Open water events and the Beach Sprint and Flags. Terrigal’s Joanna Baxter moves up from the U19 to the Open events, and Ed Gourley will be interesting to watch in the U19 events. Karlee Nurthen is in form after taking home a swag of medals including U14 Ironwoman at last weekend’s junior championships. She will be back this weekend to have a go at the U15 events.
Cronulla’s Elly Graf will defend her U19 Beach Flags and Sprint titles, as well as be a good chance in the Open events, after the retirement last year of Bulli’s Cara Langendam. Kyle O’Brien from Cronulla will be back to defend medals in the U17 water events. Jessica Lauricella, competing for Wanda, is one to watch in the U17 water events. She was chosen for this year’s High Performance Squad and is in good form. Maroubra’s Tara Coleman performed well in the ski and board events last year.
The Championships will come to a dramatic close on 28 February in what will be a massive day of finals with the pageantry and colour of the March Past up first and the prestigious Ironman and Ironwoman tagged as the events to watch later in the day.
Following this year’s event, competitors will say goodbye to Swansea Belmont and head north for the next two years to Cudgen Headland SLSC at Kingscliff.
Round 1 – IRB Premiership
The first round of this year’s IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) Premiership will also kick off on Saturday afternoon at Swansea Belmont. Water safety crews from clubs around the State will demonstrate their rescue skills in this fast-paced, action packed event.
Lennox Head-Alstonville wins Country Surf Lifesaving championship
January 17, 2010
Far North Coast clubs have dominated on the final day of the 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships at South West Rocks.
With the final teams events contested today, Lennox Head-Alstonville claimed the top spot in the overall pointscores, followed by Byron Bay in second place and Cudgen Headland in fourth place.
Defending title holder for the last two years, Warilla-Barrack Point, slipped to third position.
Sawtell was the best performing club from the Mid North Coast region, while the host club, South West Rocks, finished up in 11th spot.
Far North Coast clubs lead on day two of Country surf titles
January 17, 2010
Far North Coast clubs led the charge in the overall pointscore with three in the top four after Day Two of the 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships at South West Rocks on Saturday.
With Open and Masters events contested, Byron Bay finished up on top, while strong performances by Cudgen Headland competitors snared second place. Shellharbour took third spot and Lennox Head-Alstonville was in fourth position.
Leading the charge for Cudgen were some powerful performers in the water including Scott McCartney, Jarrad Cain, Rohan Small, Ben James, Bill Hamilton and Dylan Klein, who took out the first three places in the Open Board Rescue.
A very happy Jarrad Cain won the Open Ironman event.
Lennox Head-Alstonville makes great start to Country surf titles
January 16, 2010
The 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships kicked off yesterday under blue skies and smooth seas at South West Rocks.
With almost 2000 competitors expected to take part in the three-day event, the juniors took to the beach and water to contest a range of individual and teams events.
Competitors as young as seven battled it out, with championship title holder Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC ending the day on top in the overall pointscore.
Northern club Lennox Head-Alstonville finished up second after great performances from a particularly strong junior contingent.
2000 expected to contest Country Surf Life Saving titles
January 11, 2010
Far North Coast life savers will be among the almost 2000 who will compete in the 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships at South West Rocks this weekend.
Kempsey Shire Council and South West Rocks Surf Life Saving club will host one of the biggest events on the surf sports calendar.
With almost 2000 competitors already registered to take part at the event, the Stramit Country Championships will be the fourth largest surf carnival in 2010, only surpassed by the NSW, Queensland and Australian Championships.
The event will take place from Friday 15 January to Sunday 17 January 2010 and will feature competitors aged seven to 73.
South West Rocks to host Country surf lifesaving titles
December 17, 2009
The 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships were launched today at South West Rocks SLSC.
The event will run from 15-17 January, 2010, and will attract competitors from every non-metropolitan surf life saving branch in the State.
The event will run at South West Rocks for the next two years and will bring more than 5000 people to the region for the carnival.
With almost 2000 competitors, the Stramit NSW Country Championships is the second largest surf lifesaving competition in NSW this season.
FNC lifesaver Scott McCartney wins Interbranch board event
December 13, 2009
Far North Coast surf lifesaver Scott McCartney won the Open Male Board at the 2009 NSW Interbranch championships at Cape Hawke SLSC, Forster, over the weekend.
The titles were dominated by Sydney and Central Coast branches, with Sydney taking the championship by only two points from Central Coast.
FNC’s Joshua Brown won the Under-13 male surf race. Joshua, Lorne Greenlaw and Jay Meaney each picked up several minor placings for FNC.
FNC competitors Eliza Armstrong, Kaitlin Bakker, Samantha Corbett and Tahnee Fleming were placegetters.
Far North Coast results
Male
Under 14 Iron Man 3. Lorne Greenlaw (Far North Coast).
Under 13 Iron Man 3. Joshua Brown (Far North Coast).
Under 13 Iron Man Teams 2. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 14 Male Surf Race 3. Lorne Greenlaw (Far North Coast).
Under 13 Male Surf Race 1. Joshua Brown (Far North Coast).
Under 15 Male Beach Flags 3. Jay Meaney (Far North Coast).
Under 17 Male Beach Sprint 2. Nathan Sharp (Far North Coast).
Under 15 Male Beach Sprint 3. Jay Meaney (Far North Coast).
Open Male Board Rescue 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Open Male Board 1. Scott McCartney (Far North Coast).
Open Male Board Teams 1. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 17 Male Board Teams 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 14 Male Board Rescue 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 12 Male Board Rescue 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Female
Under 12 Iron Woman 3. Eliza Armstrong (Far North Coast).
Under 12 Iron Woman Teams 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 19 Female Beach Sprint 3. Kaitlin Bakker (Far North Coast).
Under 15 Female Board Teams 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 12 Female Board 3. Samantha Corbett (Far North Coast).
Under 12 Female Board Teams 2. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 19 Female Single Ski 2. Tahnee Fleming (Far North Coast).
Under 19 Female Ski Teams 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Under 17 Female Ski Teams 3. Far North Coast (Gold).
Tweed Coast secures NSW Surf Lifesaving Championships
December 8, 2009
Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club at Kingscliff has been selected by NSW Surf Life Saving as the host club for the 2011 and 2012 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships (with an option for 2013).
Mayor of Tweed Councillor Warren Polglase welcomed the announcement, which has the financial and in-kind support of the council.
“The Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving is to be congratulated for their efforts in securing this prestigious championship event and taking on this challenge. We at Tweed Shire Council are the back room engine and we are fully supportive of their endeavours,” he said.
“Tweed Shire is fully supportive of sports tourism and surf lifesaving is a healthy, active sport for young people and men and women of all ages.,”
Lifesavers go back to school at Lennox Head
November 26, 2009
Thirty surf lifesavers from northern NSW and south-east Queensland are attending the 2009 Lifeguard School being held in Lennox Head next week.
The lifesavers from as far north as the Gold Coast south to Macksville have been selected to take part in the school, being held at Camp Drewe.
The school is the training program for those lifesavers who wish to be appointed as employed lifeguards over summer and is being conducted by the Australian Lifeguard Service, a division of Surf Life Saving NSW.
The program kicks off on Sunday with an 800 metre pool swim and a physical and skills assessment in testing conditions at Lennox Head Beach.
DA lodged for new surf club in Ballina
August 27, 2009
A development application has been lodged for a new clubhouse for the Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore Surf Lifesaving Club.
The surf club has been operating out of the Shelly Beach Club facility for several years after its original clubhouse at Lighthouse Beach was demolished in 2005 when refurbishment solutions were exhausted.
