The Yamba Surf Club successfully hosted the Far North Coast Nippers Branch Titles at Main Beach last weekend. The big two day surf carnival saw some 500 competitors taking part from the nine clubs in the region from Cudgen Headland in the north to Yamba in the south.

Fine weather, light winds and small surf contributed to making it a great weekend for a Nippers carnival. A big workforce of Nipper parents and club members turned up to help with the running of the event which was voted the best surf carnival of the season by all the visiting clubs.

Yamba Nippers had 40 children competing over the weekend and all gave of their best in swimming, paddling and running events. Our youngest age group, the Under 8s, led the way for Yamba winning all the team events in their age group.

Gold medals:

U/8 wade relay – Felix Forbes, Kydan Jones, Harrison Lovegrove, Sophie Newton;

U/8 beach sprint relay – Felix Forbes, Kydan Jones, Harrison Lovegrove, Kayla Hancock.

Silver medals:

U/13 beach sprint and beach flags – Ben Morris;

U/8 wade race – Felix Forbes.

Bronze medals:

U/8 wade race and beach sprint – Kydan Jones;

U/8 beach flags – Felix Forbes;

U/9 board race – Jake Horton.

Next surf carnival for the club will be the combined junior/senior/masters NSW Country Titles at Kingscliff Beach on February 2 and 3.

This coming Australia Day weekend Nippers will be held on Sunday January 27 with an afternoon 3pm start followed by social activities including “races” for parents.

Because of the Nippers surf carnival the handicap surf race wasn’t held last Sunday but there will be surf races this coming weekend on Australia Day Saturday 26 and also Sunday 27.

Patrols for the long week end:

Saturday: 9am to 1pm – No.9 patrol Tony McFarlane (capt). 1pm to 5pm – No.1 patrol James Ryan (capt).

Sunday: 9am to 1pm – No.2 patrol Bill Onslow (capt). 1pm to 5pm – No. 3 patrol Matt Saunders (capt).

Monday: 9am to 1pm – No.4 patrol Rhys Comerford (capt). 1pm to 5pm – No.5 patrol Andrew Cumberland (capt).

Cathy Dougherty