Pictures: Northern beaches nippers take on the best in the state

North Curl Curl went from seventh last year to champions at the 2020 Surf Life Saving NSW State Age Championships, with plenty of other local nippers also making their mark.

Freshwater nipper Harvey Glanville wins gold against North Cronulla’s Andy Greenwood during the final of the under-10 Male Flags event at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

North Curl Curl pulled off a remarkable effort to take out the 2020 NSW Age Surf Life Saving Championships fielding a modest team of about 80 competitors.

Finishing first in the prestigious event with 289 points – a massive 70 ahead of their nearest rival Coogee – North Curl Curl’s considerable improvement on their seventh place in 2019 had everyone talking.

Mona Vale’s Tobias Woolnough (L) brings his team home for third place in the under-10 Male Board Relay semi-final at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

North Steyne’s Caden Badstue (R) in action during the heats of the under-9 Male Flags event at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

Mona Vale’s Hugh Webster in action during his leg of the under-10 Male Board Relay semi-final at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

North Steyne’s Felix Stephens in action during the heats of the under-9 Male Flags event at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

North Curl Curl coach Michael Clues, said that after Saturday’s teams day, all the kids were on a high and he was confident of picking up points in the water – particularly in the under 12s and 13s. But he didn’t expect to be ahead of Wanda at the end of the competition.

“The result is a bit surreal to be honest. Our goal at the start of today was just to stay in the top five and to try and get 170 points. And that would have been exceptional for us,” Clues said.

“The result is huge, but as I say, it’s the kids. It’s a cliche but it’s a huge club effort.”

Freshwater nipper Harvey Granville (R) wins gold against North Cronulla’s Andy Greenwood (L) during the final of the under-10 Male Flags event at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

North Curl Curl’s Tyler Brown on his way to second place in an under-11 Male Board quarter-final event at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

When asked how the club had improved so significantly in just 12 months, Clues said the secret was to make training enjoyable for the kids and to have a great coaching team behind them.

“We haven’t done too much differently. The more fun we make it, the more kids keep coming back. We make it fun but if they make a mistake at training, I make them buy me a snake! Maybe that’s it,” Clues said.

Clues said that while there had been some fresh competitor talent coming into the club in the past 12 months, the club’s focus was on nurturing their existing competitors.

In the under-14 ironman, there were few who were surprised by the decisive win by Conner Maggs from Newport. The favourite for the prestigious title came home strongly.

Among the other strong performers from Sydney Northern Beaches clubs were Dominqiue Melbourn and Zara Kasprowicz, of North Curl Curl, and Freshwater’s Harvey Glanville.

Mona Vale’s Tobias Woolnough (top) in action during his leg of the under-10 Male Board Relay semi-final at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook

Collaroy’s Ethan Thomas (L) runs to the finish line for second place in the under-10 male board relay semi-final event of the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach. Picture: Troy Snook

Competitors hit the water during the final of the under-10 Female Surf Race at the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday, 28 February, 2020. Picture: Troy Snook