NSW Surf Life Saving Country Championships: Warilla Barrack-Point SLSC cement back-to-back victories on home soil
A new dynasty could be in the offing after one club held off a final day fightback to claim back-to-back titles at the NSW Surf Life Saving Country Championships. See who came out on top.
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Warilla Barrack-Point has emerged as NSW Surf Life Saving country champions for the second year in a row, potentially kicking off a new dynasty after prevailing in a home carnival at Warilla Beach over the weekend.
The club secured a 152-point victory over rivals Cudgen Headland in the final count. And while it was a much bigger margin than the incredible one-point victory last year, it was nevertheless a close finish between the two clubs who scored 1396 and 1244 points, respectively.
“It was a very cool moment,” said Lee Harvey, Warilla’s junior activities co-ordinator.
“Being a three-day event, we were keeping an eye on the tally across the weekend. We were fortunate enough to be leading after day one, and then again after day two.
“Come the end of the carnival, they announced the top six by way of point tally and it was fortunate enough to fall in our favour again.”
Despite having almost 200 individual and team medals by the end of the carnival, Warilla Barrack-Point were never fully out of the woods, with Cudgen Headland putting in a commendable final day performance to nip at the heels of the defending champions.
“We had a handy lead by the end of day two, but it was pretty obvious on day three that Cudgen Headland were coming home with very strong, or wet, sails,” said Harvey.
“It seemed like in a lot of races it was us in one and them in two, or the other way round.
“It was really great racing, and they’re an amazing club so full credit to them. But in the end, the tally fell in our favour.”
Harvey was on the money with his predictions for competitors to watch from the club during our preview of the event.
Bailey Krstevski took out victories in the finals of the open men’s ironperson and surf race events.
Jordan White cleaned up the 30-39 years division with victories in the female surf race, single ski, board race and beach flags.
The same could be said for Nicole Sims in the 40-49 category, taking out wins in the board race, single ski, surf race and ironperson.
In particular, the club dominated the board race discipline, winning nine of 27 events, and remarkably taking out the top four spots in both the under-15 and under-17 male races.
Overall, Warilla-Barrack Point recorded 216 podium finishes, 75 of which were wins.
Harvey also insisted the behind-the-scenes work of the club deserves some credit for ensuring a smooth hosting process.
“The organising committee was a real standout for the club as well,” Harvey said.
“The crew of people who came together to get the event up and running each morning and pack it down in the afternoon, without them the win wouldn’t have been possible.”
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