Alexandra Headland savours state life saving gold ahead of Aussies

Alexandra Headland continues to celebrate another golden competitive run in the surf lifesaving scene, after having seven athletes leave the senior state championships with gold.

Alexandra Headland lifesaver Tayla Halliday joined Lucinda Kelly and Emma Woods in claiming gold Taplin glory. Picture: Surf Life Saving Australia

Alexandra Headland continues to celebrate another golden competitive run in the surf lifesaving scene, after having seven athletes leave the senior state championships with gold.

The three-day event saw thousands of the state’s best battling each other on the sands and shores of Tugun, Gold Coast last weekend.

Lisa Curry and son Jett forced to isolate amid COVID scare

Coast athletes to isolate after state champs Covid case

Alexandra Headland head coach Jack Hansen said it was fantastic to see his seniors compete against Queensland’s finest, especially since it had been over 700 days since the last state championships were held.

“It was a huge amount of relief and excitement for competitors to be able to put their foot on the line and race for a state championship.”

Alex’s young guns particularly showed their might during the carnival, with James Dickey winning the under 17’s ironman, and Tayla Halliday and Emma Woods finishing on the podium for the under 19’s ironwoman.

Coach Hansen said all three competitors were phenomenal on the day and fantastic to be around.

“Very lucky to have athletes like that and certainly be around all our other kids and seniors for that matter,” he said.

“(They were) working hard and training together as a club and team to bring the best out of each other.”

Hansen said another standout result was the three women open Taplin, where Tayla Halliday, Lucinda Kelly and Emma Woods claimed gold and glory.

Other highlights from Alexandra Headland’s participants include Jett Kenny and James Porter winning the open male double ski.

Jett’s father Grant Kenny followed suit, winning the 55-59 open double ski with his partner Jeffrey Lemarseny.

Coach Hansen said it was a heartwarming moment, seeing the father and son share wins in similar events.

More extraordinary results from other Sunshine Coast surf clubs include Maroochydore Surf Club having champions in Adam Palmer who won the open male surfboard, Hayden Cotter and Adam Palmer who won the two-male open surf board rescue, and a team of six who won the open male Taplin relay.

Runner-ups from Maroochydore include Joel Piper who came second in the under 17 male ironman and Alexandra Clarke and Peter Elford who placed third in the open mixed double ski.

Meanwhile, Noosa’s Nicholas Sloman continued his astounding streak, when he finished on top in the open male surf race, just two weeks removed from placing second in the Open Water National Championships.

The incredible showing from Alex Surf Club and surrounding clubs came a month away from the Aussies National Championships being hosted in the region.

Coach Hansen said the state carnival provided great preparation for the national stage, which several athletes have qualified for.

“Obviously, we’ll have a few admissions into the Australian championships, for what it looks like the return of Alyssa Bull.”

“We continue to strengthen our women’s team. They’re the ones who won the open females Taplin, so that’s really, really exciting.

“Every other race we’re in, we’re most certainly competitive, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what will happen in Maroochydore, which is pretty our home beach.”

Coast athletes who were at the State Surf Life Saving Championships on Sunday have been told to isolate after a person with COVID-19 attended the competition.

Olympian Lisa Curry and her son Jett Kenny are among those in isolation after attending the event on the Gold Coast.

Frazer Ramsden is a student at the University of Sunshine Coast and an intern at the Daily

Originally published as Alexandra Headland savours state life saving gold ahead of Aussies