Byron Bay Surf Life Saving Club have won their sixth straight NSW Country Title by the narrowest of margins over perennial rivals Cudgen Headland after a pulsating Day Two of competition at the 2016 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships.
The club traded the lead with Cudgen Headland on several occasions throughout the day, but it was their sheer number of entrants in the water events that was enough to get them home.
Coffs Harbour SLSC, Port Macquarie and Sawtell rounded out the top five.
Cudgen headland club coach Scott McCartney said that that while it was frustrating to get so close to Byron Bay and not finish with the title he couldn’t have been prouder of the efforts of his team.
‘It was a great carnival for Team Cudgen as we knew it would be a very close finish. Our 17s and 19s in particular had a huge schedule of racing where they backed up across three age groups to ensure we were picking up the points and placing in almost every race,’ McCartney said.
‘There was a real display of club spirit with everyone willing to get in and have a go and this was on show through the juniors right through to masters. Hopefully we can all continue to improve and come back next year and go one better.’
Hosts South West Rocks were extremely happy with their performance finishing a highly creditable 13th spot.
There was plenty of colour and history when competition in the traditional March Past got underway. In the end it was the Open team from Wauchope-Bonny Hills who impressed the judges most claiming gold in their first year in competition.
One of the star performers of the carnival was Sawtell’s Tahlia Kollen who won an outstanding 25 medals over two-days across the Under 17, 19 and Open Age Groups.
NSW Sports Manager Rob Pidgeon was delighted with success of the Country Championships.
‘Congratulations to Byron Bay for taking out the overall Club Point Score for 2016, and I would like to thank South West Rocks for being fantastic hosts,’ Mr Pidgeon said.
‘The club coped with everything thrown at them including a number of challenges with the wind and rain but it was clear that everyone enjoyed their time here.
‘We look forward to returning to South West Rocks in 2017 for another fantastic Championships,’ he concluded.
Top 10
Byron Bay SLSC
Cudgen Headland
Coffs Harbour SLSC
Port Macquarie SLSC
Sawtell SLSC
Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club
Lennox Head – Alstonville SLSC
Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSC
Yamba SLSC
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