Yamba SLSC No 3 at NSW Country Championships

It’s now the ‘pointy end’ of the season in terms of competition for Yamba Surf Club members.

A team of over 40 Junior and Masters competitors put all their hard training to the test at the recent NSW Country Championships held on the South Coast at Warilla Beach over the Australia Day weekend.

The long trek south didn’t negatively impact on those who faced three days of competition against the top surf athletes from country NSW. Yamba SLSC ended the competition in third place on the overall pointscore ladder with an impressive list of top performances and a significant number of medallists amongst the group. The home club Warilla/Barrack Point topped the pointscore with Cudgen Headland coming in a close second ahead of Yamba.

Junior Board Rescue Winners – Leo Dunne, Mostyn Brown

With the impressive tally of 24 gold, 23 silver and 13 bronze medals across the ages from Under 9s to Over 60s the Yamba colours were well to the fore in most Masters and Nipper events both in the water and on the beach. Unfortunately, no surf boat competition was held at the Championships this year.

Significant in Yamba’s medal tally was the 11 ‘team event’ gold medal haul with the Under 11’s and Masters water competitors contributing significantly. This highlights the current strength across the Yamba club and the benefits being derived from constant training.

Under 11 Surf Race medallists – l to r. Leo Dean 2nd, Ziggy O’Brien 1st, Clarry Dougherty 3rd.

Whilst there were many top performances amongst our individual and team competitors over the three days, the list of our individual gold medallists from Under 9s to Over 60s included Cody Kratzmann, Harlen Bews, Clarry Dougherty, Ziggy O’Brien, Felix Forbes, Alan Dunne, Joe Dougherty, Jeunesse Meldrum, David O’Brien, Michael Stubbs and Jane Lawrence.

Making it all possible were our great band of IRB drivers and crew, carnival officials and club water safety personnel whose contribution was greatly appreciated, along with the support of age managers and parents.

Competition now turns to the Northern Beaches of Sydney where the NSW State Titles will take place at Queenscliff at the beginning of March.

In the meantime, the Yamba Boaties will head to Woolgoolga this weekend for the North Coast Boat Series and the following weekend Yamba will host the Masters Surf Carnival on Saturday February 17 at Main Beach.

Jim Dougherty