Yamba Nippers returned home from the 2024 NSW Surf Lifesaving State Age Titles at the weekend with one of their best ever medal hauls of 2 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals.
The Titles were held at Queenscliff Beach in Sydney with a big Yamba team of 23 nippers competing in some testing surf conditions over three days. The club mixed it with the biggest and best clubs in the State and finished in 22nd place of the 80 competing clubs in the Championships Pointscore.
Gold medals went to Cody Kratzmann in the Under 9 years Male Surf Race and the Yamba boys in the Under 10 years Male Surf Teams – the club’s first ever gold medal at Nippers State level in a ‘surf teams’ event. The Yamba team comprised Leo South, Cody Kratzmann, Floyd Doyle and Kenny O’Brien.
Leo Dean was rewarded for his consistent performances over the weekend with a silver medal following a great finish in the Under 11 Years Iron Man.
Bronze medals went to Clarry Dougherty in the Under 11 Years Board Race, Henry Jenner in the Under 11 years 1km Beach Run, and the Yamba team of Ziggy O’Brien, Leo Dean, Clarry Dougherty and Henry Jenner in the Under 11 Years Male Surf Teams.
Other Yamba members to record top 6 placings included Felix Forbes who was 4th in the Under 13 Years 2km Beach Run and a close up 5th in the Board Race final; the Under 13 Years Girls Board Rescue team of Willow Rowney and Kayla Hancock; Ziggy O’Brien 6th in the Under 11 Years Male Surf Race; and Henry Jenner and Leo Dean who finished 6th in the Under 11 Years Male 2 x 500 metres Beach Run Relay.
The NSW State Inclusive Championships were held in conjunction with the Age Titles and Yamba’s Maverick McLennan came away with 4 gold medals in the Under 9 Years Boys swim, board, beach sprint and beach flags events, plus a silver medal in the wade race.
The NSW championships continue this week with a team of 12 Yamba Masters lining up to compete in various age groups from Over 30yrs through to over 70’s.
Jim Dougherty