Stunning performances from Bella Williams in the Under 14 female division capped off wins across the weekend for the club’s contingent, putting them in fourth place in the overall pointscore.
The Cooks Hill girls walked away with seconds in the surf teams and board relay races, then Bella blitzed the field with solid wins in the U14 Board and Ironwoman races.
Knocking off the race favourite and title holder Piper Harrison from Manly in the Ironwoman was a great effort in tricky conditions.
With the main local competition in the Hunter being her own club mates and Swansea competitor, Eliza Johnson, Bella was particularly wary of the athletes from bigger clubs.
“The Sydney branches are so so strong, I was just really nervous,” she said. After a tight swim leg in the Ironwoman, Bella broke through on the board, managing to get over a set of waves which stopped the rest of the pack in their tracks, giving her a healthy lead.
Bella and team mates train with Wayne Whiteman in a joint Hunter squad which includes Swansea Belmont, Stockton and Fingal competitors. “We call it Wayne’s World of Surf Sports,” says Bella.
She also looks up to athletes like champion ironwoman Georgia Miller from Newport, who will be competing at the Opens event next weekend when Bella joins with an U15 club mate in some events.
With Georgia at Swansea next weekend to cheer her on, the young athlete could produce more memorable performances for her club.
Sunday 5 March 2017