Wanda Surf Lifesaving Club have narrowly taken out this year’s Bate Bay Interclub surf lifesaving carnival.
The carnival, held earlier this month, was held in favourable conditions with a slight shore dump which had an impact on some races.
There was also a new format focusing on team events including Taplin, board relay, belt, boat and a two kilometre relay, while the flags remained an individual event.
All four Bate Bay clubs – Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla and Cronulla – were without some of their top atheltes, including Jamee Smith, Jake Evans, Chris King and Alex Rampoldi, who were away representing the Australian youth lifesaving team at the International Surf Rescue Challenge in New Zealand.
North Cronulla also had boat crews competing at the Australian team trials in Queensland but it didn’t stop them from dominating in the boat events while Cronulla were strongest on the beach.
Wanda also welcomed back Nathan Smith for a rare appearance at an Interclub carnival, with Smith helping Wanda take out the 12-a-side swim.
North Cronulla had the lead before Wanda’s big guns – Mitchell Allum, Mitch Fagerstrom, Nathan Smith and Hayden Allum – came home strongly with Hayden Allum snatching the lead on the last leg.
Wanda won the Bill Marshall Point Score Shield by one point from North Cronulla.
2017 Bate Bay Interclub carnival point score
Wanda 15
North Cronulla 14
Cronulla 13
Elouera 8
