Cudgen SLSC wins championship

Cudgen Headland SLSC has surpassed 33 other NSW country surf clubs to claim its fourth consecutive Country Championship win.

Cudgen’s 200 plus contingent of competitors proved too strong for the rest of the field as they accumulated 1037 points.

The win came despite a solid challenge from South Coast club Warilla-Barrack Point who got to 826 points.

Byron Bay (456) made a late charge to get on top of Lennox Head–Alstonville SLSC (433) to claim third place.

‘We were getting run up there by Warilla on second and we thought we would struggle for the first. It was really rough out there today. It was such a big team effort,’ Cudgen Headland SLSC president Grant Rogers said. 

‘This is a big one for the kids, a lot haven’t come first today. This is all about team spirit and participating together and keeping each other going, and going one better than we have before.

‘Byron have said they’ll be back on top in 2021 but we say, c’mon Byron, we’re looking forward to it.

‘Having Country Champs going this well, we’re getting all fired up for State Champs and Nationals. This is a great boost for morale and we’re hoping to take the momentum through,’ he said. 

Highlights included the seasoned Cudgen open boys storming home in the teams events on Sunday, stacking the deck in races like the open board rescue, and claiming the first five spots. 

The dream team of Scott McCartney, Jarrad Cain and Kai Onley were too strong for Warilla and were able to claim the open male taplin relay with the club also winning the U/19 male ski relay and open male board relay.

Fifteen year-old Lily O’Sullivan proved to be a machine again, taking out the U/17 and the open female surf race, U/17 ironwoman, the U/17 board, board rescue,  the open board rescue, and the open board race with Olissa Onley.