Interstates surf life saving stars, top states, drama, controversy, ever race winner, pointscore

There was argy bargy on the sand, sisters and brothers making waves, close calls in the surf and drama on the beach. The interstate surf life saving titles had it all. RACE WINNERS

There was some sensational action at the Interstates at Maroubra.

There were brother and sister acts, rising stars galore, an English Channel swimmer, Olympic swimming and kayaking prospects and stars of the Australian iron series.

There was also drama, a bit of controversy, close calls, thrilling beach flag racing and athletes from across the country competing with pride and passion at the Surf Life Saving Australian interstates.

But after almost eight hours of racing in high heat and tricky surf it was NSW who finished at the top of the 2003 event leaders board overall after just pipping Queensland with a strong finish to the carnival at Maroubra.

Queensland were crowned pathways overall winners.

NSW were also the youth overall winners. CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY

L to R: Ruby Gray from NSW edges out Megan McCaffrey from WA in the final of the Youth Women's Beach Flags. Pic: John Appleyard

Queensland were the open overall winners.

Overall NSW won with 255 points from Queensland 243, WA 166, Victoria 148, SA 130 and Tasmania 130.

Sam Zustovich from Mollymook had plenty of reason to celebrate after leading NSW to the overall victory as captain of the team and also winning the open beach flags title.

Sam Zustovich on his way to a beach flags win.

“To bring the Interstates trophy home again it’s such a great feeling, getting the win over Queensland has always been a big thing in this competition so that’s awesome,” he said.

“We all kept our heads up, kept pushing through and to get this result today is really good.’’

Board paddlers at the Interstates. Pic: John Appleyard

The interstate event also showcased four of the rising stars of the sport who just happen to be sisters and brothers.

Queensland teenagers Jasmine and Bianca Raywood and Sydney’s Noah and Connor Maggs were among the standout performers at the event which saw surprise results and drama when

Queensland lost its spot on the line of a mixed race due to a false start.

Beach events proved popular with plenty of push and shove in the finals of the beach flags provoking the biggest cheers from the crowd.

Australian Interstate championships at Maroubra Beach. Pic: John Appleyard

FAMILY AFFAIRS AT INTERSTATES

The future of surf life saving looks bright if the number of family ties at the interstates is anything to go by.

Noah Magg, 14 and brother Connor, 17, were two standouts as were Queensland teenagers Bianca and Jasmine Raywood.

Noah won the pathway ironman from Byron Oliphant QLD and Luke Higgs NSW and finished third behind Oliphant and Higgs in the surf race and came third behind Taj Murray QLD and Dane Sutton NSW in the board race.

Noah Maggs on his way to winning the Pathway Ironman event. Pic: John Appleyard

Conner Maggs won the youth ironman from Ethan Hamilton NSW and Riley Brennan QLD and the surf race ahead of Brennan and Henry Simpson QLD.

Bianca Rayward won the pathway ironperson for 14-15 year olds from Pipi Te Pania

NSW and Zara Kasprowicz NSW and the surf race from Niamh Arthur QLD and Zoe Woods

QLD.

Jasmine Rayward from Queensland won the Youth Ironwoman event.

Jasmine, who won the youth iron person, also won the ski race, finished third behind Lani Waller NSW and Tully Elliott NSW in the youth board race and finished second to Olivia Clues NSW and ahead of Paige Holt VIC in the surf race.

RESULTS YOUTH IRON PERSON

1 Jasmine Rayward QLD

2 Leah Pilkington

3 India Hulbert NSW

L to R: Alexandra Rampoldi from NSW, EJ Forsyth from Queensland and Imogen Herrington from WA fight it out in the open beach flags.

PUSH AND SHOVE in FLAGS RACE

There was plenty of pride and passion on the line in the beach events with one of the highlight the race between old foes Alex Rampoldi from Sydney's south and EJ Forsyth from Queensland.

Rampoldi, a triplet, positioned beautifully to claim her beach flags win.

“She beat me at Aussies,’’ Rampoldi said.

“This has given me a lot of confidence for the states and Aussies this year.’’

RESULTS OPEN BEACH FLAGS

1 Alexandra Rampoldi NSW

2 Elizabeth Forsyth QLD

3 Imogen Herrington WA

Hot competition in the youth board race.

TASSIE STAR AT INTERSTATES

It was tiring but three days of competition in NSW still wasn’t as tough as a big race Tasmanian Jayde Richardson did just before Covid.

Richardson swam the English Channel in September 2019, on a big spring tide.

“I had wanted to do it in 11 to 12 hours and I was about 10 and a half hours in and near the finish when the tide turned,’’ she said.

Jayde Richardson of Tasmania at the Interstates.

“It took me two hours to go about 1.5 km.’’

Richardson finished 12th in the open female surf race.

RESULTS

1 Jade Slee QLD

2 Georgia Singleton NSW

3 Britney Pierce NSW

NSW and Queensland dominated the event.

IRONWOMAN CHASING OLYMPIC SPOT

Jemma Smith is preparing for a massive month of competition in March when she competes at both the Australian canoe, kayaking championships and the Australian surf lifesaving event in Perth.

Smith, who grew up on the central Coast but now lives and trains on the northern beaches, is hoping to paddle for Australia at the Paris Olympics.

But she also wants to compete well at the Australian surf lifesaving championships for her new club Newport.

An exhausted Leah Pilkington of Queensland catches her breath after her seocnd in the youth ironwoman.

Smith finished first in the ski race at the interstate, and also plans to compete for NSW in the upcoming state championships on Sydney’s northern Beaches.

“This is fantastic preparation for that, and for Aussies,” she said.

“I’m still trying to do both the surf life saving in the paddling. I love them both and I’ll see what happens.

Smiths preferred event in kayaking is the K1 500 and she is chasing Australian selection for a series of world cups in Europe this year.

RESULTS OPEN SKI RACE

1 Jemma Smith NSW

2 Ruby Meehan QLD

3 Piper Harrison NSW

The overall team winners were NSW.

THANKS BRO!

Time over winter spent training with her brother has paid dividends for 15-year-old Olivia Clues from Newport.

Clues won the surf race and finished third in the ski at the interstates with her goal a podium finish in the ironwoman at the upcoming NSW championships in Australian titles.

“I did a lot of paddling with Bailey on the ski, and that has really helped me,’’ she said of her older brother, who is 17.

“It’s giving me a lot of confidence,’’ she said.

RESULTS YOUTH SURF RACE

1 Olivia Clues NSW

2 Jasmine Rayward QLD

3 Paige Holt VIC

Victoria's Harrison Scurrah in the Pathway beach flags race.

DAUGHTER OF A GUN WITH OWN DREAM

Warrnambool athlete Mia Cook comes from a sporting family with her mum a former netballer and marathoner and father a former Essendon player in the AFL.

But Cox has different aspirations and wants to one day represent Victoria in the professional ironwoman series.

Her inspiration is Grace Harris, a Victorian who has moved to Queensland to pursue a career on the professional iron series.

“That’s what I want to do as well. She has really inspired me,” Cox said.

The 16-year-old finished second in the ski and fourth in the youth board race.

RESULTS YOUTH FEMALE SKI

1 Jasmine Rayward QLD

2 Mia Cook VIC

3 Olivia Clues

Georgia Singleton heading back into the beach to take out second in the board race.

Patrick Eley from Western Australia at the finish of the open board race.

IRONMAN STAR’S HECTIC SCHEDULE

One of the hardest working athletes in the surf in recent days has been Sydney’s Jackson Borg.

Borg competed in round three and four of the ironman series on the weekend and then backed up for the interstates on Monday at Maroubra and won the men’s ski.

“Any time I can race for my state I will do it. I wouldn’t miss this for the world“ Borg said.

It’s very important for me to show others that you don’t have to move to do Ironman. That you can do it from NSW.

Noah Steiner won the open ironman.

TEEN CHASING IRONMAN CAREER

Borg’s NSW teammate Noah Steiner is a star on the rise with his eye on the prize of competing on the professional ironman series.

Last year he missed doubt on qualifying on a countback but is determined to race beside Borg one day.

On Monday the Wanda surf life saver actually edge out Borg for the ironman win.

RESULTS OPEN IRONMAN RACE

1 Noah Steiner NSW

2 Jackson Borg NSW

3 Cooper Williams QLD

L to R: In a familiar state rivalry, Alexandra Rampoldi from NSW and EJ Forsyth from Queensland fight it out in the final of the open women’s beach flag event.

EVERY WINNER AT THE INTERSTATES 2023

Event: Pathways, Youth, Open winners

Ironman NSW Noah Maggs, NSW Conner Maggs, NSW, Noah Steiner

Ironwoman QLD Bianca Rayward, QLD Jasmine Rayward, QLD Tiarnee Massie

Female Beach Sprint QLD Pipi Barlow, WA Megan McCaffrey, QLD Elizabeth Forsyth

Male Beach Sprint NSW Luke Newrick, NSW Luke Avati, SA Joseph McKinnon

Beach Relay NSW, NSW, QLD

Competitors get underwayin the youth mixed surf teams race.

Female Flags QLD Pipi Barlow, NSW Ruby Gray, NSW Alexandra Rampoldi

Male Flags QLD Zeke Zimmerle, WA Tana Wesley, NSW Sam Zustovich

Female Surf QLD Bianca Rayward, NSW Olivia Clues, QLD Jade Slee

Male Surf QLD Byron Oliphant, NSW Connor Maggs, QLD Cooper Williams

Female Board QLD Britt Ackerley, NSW Lani Waller, QLD Tiarnee Massie

Male Board QLD Taj Murray, WA Jules Fredonnet, QLD Jett Kenny

Female Ski No event QLD Jasmine Rayward, NSW Jemma Smith

Male Ski No event NSW Ethan Hamilton, NSW Jackson Borg

Surf Relay NSW, NSW, NSW.

Board Relay NSW, QLD, QLD

Ski Relay No event, NSW QLD

6/8 Person Relay NSW, QLD, NSW

Originally published as Interstates surf life saving stars, top states, drama, controversy, ever race winner, pointscore