North Bondi SLSC is the Age Overall Point Score champion for a second straight year, holding off a late charge from southern neighbours, Coogee SLSC to claim the title at the 2024 NSW Surf Life Saving Age Championships, proudly presented by Your local club.
It was a full Sydney Branch podium finish, with South Maroubra SLSC rounding out the top three ahead of Manly LSC and Wanda SLSC.
Swansea Belmont SLSC and Avoca Beach SLSC, representing Hunter and Central Coast Branch, respectively, finished in fifth and sixth.
The finals package day, which was livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube and Kayo Sports Freebies, saw winners from up and down the NSW coastline, showcasing the depth of talent the state boasts in surf sports.
In fact, to close out the day, Beach Flags winners in four different age groups came from four different branches. First Olivia Kelly from Woolgoolga SLSC won the U13 Female, then Brendan Latham from Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC won the U13 Male.
Jessica Majsak from Ocean Beach SLSC picked up another Flags gold moments after, this time in the U14 Female, before Richard Nestor from Coogee won the final gold of the Championships in the U14 Male.
Olivia had yesterday won the U13 Female Sprint, ensuring she’d take out the beach double.
Earlier, athletes from U11 to U14s showed their skills in the surf with a package of water events across two high-octane zones, with crazy finishes and first-time State gold medallists running rampant.
Lennox Head-Alstonville SLSC had an incredible five-minute run mid-morning, with Amy Roberts winning the U12 Female Board just moments before clubmate Billy Stewart won the U12 Male Board race.
While the Far North Coast clubs supporters were celebrating, over in the other water area the U13 Female Board had an incredible finish, with judges forced to consult the video replay after a pack of about 12 girls all appeared to cross the finish line at once.
While first place – Umina SLSC’s Savannah Glynn – was all but confirmed, the minor placings jostled so much that second and third in the line eventually fell entirely off the podium, replaced by Alexandra Hall of Avoca Beach and Kathryn Jordan of Coogee.
Later, a double delight for Wamberal SLSC saw Ashton Bone and Billy McCarthy finishing ahead of Cooks Hill SLSC’s Jacob Samohkin in the U13 Male Iron.
An iconic call from the on-beach commentators suggested North Bondi’s Mia Hoo could “have lunch before the second competitor comes in” in the U12 Female Iron – another win for the little dynamo, while Manly’s Henry Whitehead was grinning from ear to ear as he rounded the crowd control on his way to an U14 Male Iron gold.
In the Cameron’s, Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC nearly managed a famous win in the U14 Female, keeping it tight with a strong Newport SLSC team before eventually settling for silver. The team of Imogen Moore, Alani Sims, Imogen Walsh, and Bonnie Wrigglesworth was exceptionally proud of the result.
A similar story befell The Lakes SLSC in the U12 Mixed Cameron, where Jack Allen, Harry Boulton, Zaylee Kwasnik, and Piper-Jade Wardrop – the latter two part of the Central Coast club’s U12 Female Surf Teams win yesterday – who couldn’t quite catch North Bondi but left a big gap to third in their final.
Swansea Belmont SLSC – who fell back later in the Championships but had a strong run early – saw one of the most successful individuals of the day come from their ranks. Liam Blair won gold in the U11 Iron, Surf race and Surf teams, silver in the Mixed Cameron and bronze in the Board Relay and Rescue.
Meanwhile, around the headland from Queenscliff, Freshwater SLSC was named the overall Lifesaving champion, inclusive of events like First Aid, Champion Lifesaver and Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R).
OVERALL POINT SCORE TOP 15
North Bondi SLSC – 274
Coogee SLSC – 233
South Maroubra SLSC – 221
Manly LSC – 199
Wanda SLSC – 199
Swansea Belmont SLSC – 158
Avoca Beach SLSC – 146
North Curl Curl SLSC – 117
Elouera SLSC – 111
Cronulla SLSC – 94
Redhead SLSC – 91
Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC – 81
Newport SLSC – 61
Cooks Hill SLSC – 58
Cudgen Headland SLSC – 57
Monday 10 March 2024