SURF LIFE SAVING –
After four days of the 2021 NSW Age Surf Life Saving Championships at Redhead and Swansea Beaches in Newcastle, a number of clubs from the Central Coast Region have come away with wins for their young competitors from the Under 9’s to 14’s.
From Thursday, February 25 to Sunday, February 28, the competition for the overall win was tightly contested, with Avoca Beach reaching a lofty seventh place after the first two days featuring the Under 9’s to 11s.
However, in the end it was North Curl Curl who, after being in second place by the completion of Day Two, lifted themselves to take back the title with a 59 point lead.
The water events at Swansea Beach got off to a tricky start on Day One in challenging conditions, but fortunately the waves calmed down by Day Two and allowed the younger age groups to complete their busy program.
Meanwhile, Redhead Beach hosted the sand events to keep the 2,400 junior competitors from 71 NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs positively socially distanced.
Gold medal winners from the Central Coast included Talia Tebb from Avoca Beach in the Under 10 Board Race and Billy McCarthy from Wamberal in the Under 10 Surf Race.
Zach Mitchell from The Lakes could barely contain his delight in winning the Under 10 Board Race in a highly emotional finish that came down to the wire with an all-out battle to cross the line between him and North Steyne’s Felix Stephens.
After braving the big surf, it was smiles all round for the boys who seemed like they’d been mates for years but only just met waiting in line for their race to be run.
“I don’t know what happened out there, it was such a mission,” said Zach.
“Felix, my buddy here, gave me a great race.
“I was just, no matter what, coming down that wave, I knew I had a State medal.
“The best thing is getting to make friends.
“It feels amazing and I’ll never forget that race.
“Last year going from sixth to first now, it’s awesome.
“This is my first medal.
“These are such fun conditions to race in,” concluded the enthused Lakes young man.
Day Three and Four involved the Under 12’s to Under 14’s and included more medals for the travelling Central Coasties.
Will Tebb complemented his younger sister’s gold from Day One when he won the Under 12’s Board Race.
Hayden McGregor from Terrigal won the Under 12’s Surf Race and the Ironman, whilst Umina’s Anwar El-Kurdi won the Under 13’s Male Beach Sprint and Beach Flags double.
With the Under 9’s to Under 14’s accounted for, the Championships will return to Newcastle from March 5 -7 for the Open competitors, and then continue over the following two weekends.
Source:
Media Releases, Feb 23-28
Surf Life Saving NSW