Australian youth surf life saving youth titles top guns, results and photo gallery wrap
The beach flags signalled the end of the youth competition at the Australian surf life saving championships and had spectators on their feet. Stars, standouts and best results from the event.
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Australia’s nippers played starring roles in a sensational weekend of action as the national surf life saving championships kicked off in Perth at Scarborough beach.
The 1000 plus youngsters ripped up the sand and performed in the water, winning medals galore as individuals and in club teams .
The flags racing signalled the end of the competition and it had the large crowd on its feet as the speedsters of surf life saving performed in their sandy amphitheatre.
On of the stars was Gerringong SLSC’s Miller Siasat, the only athlete from his club making the trek to Perth to compete.
It was worth the effort with the young gun snaring two gold medals.
Siasat’s last outing was in the U14 Male Beach Flags final where he again tasted success.
“I’m really proud of my efforts and I’m just glad I could come out here and race against my mates, and I got the job done so I’m happy with that,” he said.
“I’ve been preparing for this since last year but it’s just a great feeling to come here and get it done,” he said.
Another standout was Trent Yates from Sorrento who picked up his third gold medal in the U13 racing.
“I won the flags, the beach sprint and the 13-14 mixed relay. I didn’t really expect to do so well,’’ he said.
Neither did young Victorian Swayde Cole from Mordialloc SLSC who won her first Individual Aussies gold with a sensational performance in the U15 Female Beach Flags.
“It means so much, coming from Victoria. We’ve got an amazing crew of Mordialloc beaches which has just grown unbelievably from last year,” she said.
“Last year I finished seventh in the flags final. The training and the coaches have made a difference for me. Every coach down at Mordialloc has helped so much.
“I was a bit nervous, but I just love it so much, I’m just happy to be here.’’
Newcastle clubs Cooks Hill and Swansea Belmont also had some great results.
Lily Egan and Alexis Sutherland won the U14 Female Board Relay in a thriller.
“It was so close in the swim and board, it was neck-and-neck between us and Sunshine Beach,” Alexis said.
“We just worked together and got our rate up - it feels so amazing, it’s such a good feeling to win Aussies gold.’’
Swansea Belmont pair Kaitlin Rees and Kaleah Kingston won gold in the surf teams race after finishing third at the NSW titles last month.
How good are our young surf life savers! And how good is this video of the @SLSAustralia Aussies youth competition! Wrap: https://t.co/ZW3HXTxeVXpic.twitter.com/SSJBpPUpPT
— amanda lulham (@amandalulham) March 27, 2023
“We were kind of nervous, because obviously we wanted to go good in this event since previous years we’ve gone great but just haven’t medalled. So we put a lot of pressure on ourselves but we’re glad we came through with the win,’’ Kaitlin said.
Earlier in the U14/15 Female Surf Race Teams, Alexandra Headland’s Briarna Wilkinson, Cerys Davis, Milly Petersen, Zoe Woods defended their national title.
“It’s amazing. We did it last year so it’s good to go back to back. We managed to overcome the nerves,’’ Milly said.
On a good day for Queensland clubs Maroochydore won the U13/U14 Female Surf Race Teams thanks to Mary Thompson, Reagan Copsey, Ruby Twiggy Williams and Sophie Hebron.
Clubmate Jay O’Pray, daughter of two time Australian surf belt champion Jason O’Pray, also won a gold medal.
Twin brothers, sisters, a Brisbane Olympic hopeful and a host of locals starred on the sand early on day two of the Australian youth surf life saving championships in Perth.
After a sensational day of competition on Saturday where around 1000 kids between 12 and 15 kicked off the nine-day surf sport extravaganza, the beach runners hit the sand to determine the first medals of the day.
Runners from NSW and the host state Perth picked up the lions share of medals on a chilly Sunday morning with twins and a set of sisters from Queensland also starring.
This followed on from NSW winning 14 of the 33 medals decided on day one with Queensland club Maroochydore starring with three gold medallists.
Queenslanders then dominated the open and under 19 ocean swim.
BROTHERS IN ARMS IN BEACH RUN
Two of the stars on Sunday morning stars were twins Thomas and Mitchell Chalmers from Swansea Belmont.
The pair went one-two in the U13 Male 2km Beach Run with South Maroubra’s Leo Liquete making it a NSW podium sweep.
Tom is a talented cross country runner who finished second at the last national championships and has had a highly successful first Aussies.
The young gun, who goes to Swansea High, said he and his brother train together and push each other to excel.
“It really helps both of us,’’ said Tom, who finished second in the U13 ironman and board.
The pair then went on to win the 2x1km relay together.
SISTERS SIZZLE ON THE SAND
Continuing the family theme a set of sisters from Burleigh won the U14/U15 2x1km beach relay.
Savannah and Sienna Bush beat the North Cottesloe Blue pair of Charlotte King and Layla Stewart with Swansea Belmont’s Emerson Leadbeatter and Phoebe Doran third.
“It so cool, amazing,’’ said the sisters.
“She (Sienna) is always on my tail which is so good. We train two or three times a week. We won the relay at states as well so we were really excited coming into Aussies.
“No matter what, we always try our hardest.’’
BRISBANE OLYMPIC HOPEFUL STARS
Wanda’s Kyle Mason has aspirations of representing Australia at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane in triathlon.
On Sunday he was showing his great turn of pace in the U15 beach run, winning the event at Scarborough.
Kyle beat Alex Sheppard from Kurrawa with Zachary Tucker from Glenelg third.
“This is one of the biggest events of the year for me,’’ Kyle said.
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS IN BEACH RUN
The U14 Male 2Km Beach Run was won by Owen Chaloner of North Cottesloe from Zac Moir of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park and Marcus Keyes from Wanda.
The U14 Female 2Km Beach Run was won by Isabella Neervoort from Cottesloe with Savannah Bush second and Bailee Brand from City of Bunbury third.
The U13 Female 2Km Beach Run was won by Alannah Dimmock from Redhead with Kyah Gallen and Layla White from Wanda second and third.
The U15 Female 2Km Beach Run was won by Lyla Stewart from North Cottesloe with Sienna Bush third.
BOARD RELAY THRILLER
The U13 & U14 Male Board Relay final had the crowd on its feet with the Warilla Barrack Point team of Kobe Sims, son of rugby league player Ashton, Maddix Burke and Max Miller beating Redhead (1 Rocco Ayre 2 Sidney Burns 3 William Griffiths) and Swansea Belmont (Kai Cook 2 Oliver Russell 3 Will Paterson).
Warrilla Barrack then finished third in the 14 & 15 final behind winners Cooks Hill with Cudgen Headlands second.
OLYMPICS THE GOAL FOR SWIMMER
Noosa’s Finella Gibbs-Beal won the U19 ocean swim at Aussies on Sunday.
The top ocean water swimmer has represented Australia at world championship in the past in 10km and 5km events.
“I went to the World Championships last year for the 5km, and had quite a few international opportunities in the last few years,’’ she said.
“I’ve had the Junior World Championships and a couple of World Cups around the world which has been really exciting. I’ve got another one later this year in Paris, and I’m excited to see how it goes.
“Paris is definitely a dream for everyone, but I think more realistically for me I’m thinking about LA, maybe even Brisbane. It’s definitely really exciting and something to look forward to for me and everyone on the team.’’
Perth swimmer Kyle Lee won the open men’s race just days after returning from overseas.
“We just got back from Israel on Tuesday, competing at the LEN Cup. That was a selection competition for the World Championships coming up. I’ll be competing in Fukuoka in July in the 5km,’’ he said.
“It means everything, representing Australia has always been a dream of mine and something I don’t take for granted. I’m very excited to do it and grateful for the opportunity.”
Read more from AMANDA LULHAM HERE
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