ORGANISERS are praying for better weather for the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships on the Central Coast this weekend after the NSW Junior (nippers) carnival last week was thrown into chaos.
About half the junior events were cancelled as youngsters shivered on Central Coast beaches in driving wind and rain, less than a week after gale force winds tore the roof off Wanda SLSC back in Sydney.
Friday's first day of competition was cancelled immediately, and Saturday's events completely revised. And while about 4000 nippers were to take part, many instead left and returned home with their families.
Floodwaters resulted in the carcasses of dead sheep, and at least one dead cow, being washed into the competition area at Ocean Beach, Umina, where the water was already saturated in rubbish, including full size floating logs, forcing many events to be moved 30 minutes away to Terrigal.
Parents complained about not being allowed to install tents or shelters, with organisers fearing they would be blown away in the gale conditions; others complained that the split venues forced children to chose between their events.
"We were left waiting for events which were cancelled, and told others were cancelled when they actually were staged later on," said one mother. "The communication was not great."
Surf Life Saving NSW president Tony Haven said the safety of the juniors was "our number one priority".
"This meant tough decisions, split venues, program changes and sometimes lengthy waits for families in the rain and cold wind," he said.
"Those who competed and were placegetters were certainly deserving of their result, particularly given the trying conditions.
"I thank our officials, organising committee and club working parties, and thank the competitors and parents for their patience and understanding."
Reigning champions Manly edged out Avoca in the overall pointscore, while nippers from the four Bate Bay junior clubs performed well to again place in the top 10.
Elouera, helped by their beach team, finished the top Bate Bay club (fourth), 15.5 points ahead of fifth-placed Wanda. North Cronulla and Cronulla finished seventh and eighth.
RESULTS:
ELOUERA
■Gold
Josh Cassidy, Under 14 beach
sprint and flags
All-age beach relay (Josh Cassidy, Tom Crossle, Franky Crossle, Peter Thoroughgood, Charlie Mortimer-Short, Jack Soulos)
Chelsea Holmes, U9 flags
Peter Thoroughgood U9 sprint
Chris King U13 board
Josh Jacobs U13 flags
Sam King U14 board
■ Silver
Ally Novotny, U8 wade
Charlie Mortimer-Short, U8 sprint
Ethan Whittle, U10 flags
Ella Randazzo, U11 flags
■ Bronze
Tara Stortenbeker, U14 flags
Rachel Tougher U10 sprint
Caitlyn Murray U11 surf race
James Stortenbeker U9 sprint
U13 male surf team
march past team
WANDA
■ Gold
Kiera Warn, U11 surf race
U11 girls board relay, Kiera Warn, Mia Ross, Rachel Sothern.
Mia Ross, U11 board race.
U10 male surf teams
■ Silver
Kiera Warn U11 Ironwoman
Finn Ross, surf race
Tilly Handforth, U9 female flags
Lauren McMahon, U14 ironwoman
U10 male board relay
U9 male surf teams
U10 female surf teams
U14 female surf teams
■ Bronze
Ryan Peake, U8 flags
Joshua Tattam, U9 flags.
NORTH CRONULLA
■ Gold
U12 flags, Alexandra Rampoldi
U12 ironman, Leo Nosatti
U13 female surf team, Hailey Blatchford, Nerve Glowacki, Kirk Hood, Laurel McKillop
U14 mixed cameron, Ethan Garland, Kieran Hanley, Shannon Keevers, Aulia Marshall.
■ Silver
U12 flags, Connor Flanagan
U14 surf, Christopher Hoare
U11 board relay, Zachary Roja
U14 male surf team
■ Bronze
U12 male surf, Leo Nosatti
U13 ironwoman, Kirra Hood
U13 surfboard riding, Harrison Sheldon
U9 flags, Lucy Flanagan
U11 female board relay
U13 mixed cameron
CRONULLA
■ Gold
Ngaire Hadfield, U14 sprint and flags
Isabellah Walker, U11 Sprint
Sam Stonestreet, U11 Flags
Talia Munro, U13 Flags.
■ Silver
Georgia Earl, U8 flags
U14 cameron relay "A" team
Kade Dunn, U9 flags
■ Bronze
Danielle Katzos, U11 beach sprint
U8 female wade relay
Jake Hensley, U12 ironman
*Results supplied
by the Bate Bay clubs.
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