The Surf Life Saving NSW 2020 State Championships wrapped-up on Sunday at Swansea Belmont, Lake Macquarie, with northern NSW surf sports athletes from Cudgen Headland, Lennox Head, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Sawtell and Woolgoolga performing strongly in all event disciplines.
It was fitting that on International Women’s Day, Sunday 8 March, one of the standout performances came from Lily O’Sullivan from Cudgen Headland on the state’s Far North Coast. Lily claimed gold in the U17 Female Board Rescue and the U17 Female Surf Race, Silver in the Female Tube Rescue and took home two bronze medals in the U17 Female Board Relay and U17 Female Board Race. It was one of the strongest individual performances in the competition and helped steer her club to claim a haul of sixteen medals.
Lily O'Sullivan from Cudgen Headland said that she and Olissa Onley worked well together to bring home gold for their club in the Board Rescue.
“We had a really good paddle, I used the rip to get out in the swim and then Olissa got out really fast and we paddled in together. I could see North Bondi out of the corner of my eye so I just put my head down and kept going. A gold medal is a great feeling and we're just so happy with our performance,” said Lily O’Sullivan.
Lennox Head SLSC also performed strongly at the Championships, bagging two gold and three silver medals with Jackson Bond and Oliver Sharp the stand-out performers. They worked well together to win the U15 Male Board Rescue then backed up that performance to take the bronze in the U15 Male Board Relay.
Woolgoolga brought their A-game to the Blackmiths Beach (and the most brightly-coloured race shorts they could find) and shone in the sprint relays. They claimed silver in both the U17 and U19 Male Beach Relay events.
"We felt pretty good the competition was really tough we just wanted to give it our best and it paid off," said Mitchell Della from Woolgoolga SLSC.
"Preparation into Aussies we'll be working hard, come together and work on our baton changes, make sure we're sticking on the right side of the lane. It's going to be good," said Harrison Mower, from Woolgoogla SLSC.
Coffs Harbour also enjoyed two podium finishes with a win and a second-place in the U17 Male Single Ski and U15 Male 2km Beach Run. Hudson Barry and Nicholas Bulloch were the club’s star performers.
“One hundred percent, we are so happy to get a silver medal. I didn't think I'd be able to but it was good to be able to do it, it all worked out for me today. I put in the work and got the results in the end," said Nicholas Bulloch.
More background about the 2020 NSW State Championships, including event results, is available on the SLSNSW website - https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/events/2020-nsw-surf-life-saving-championships
Tuesday 10 March 2020