In a nailbiting climax to Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club's 9th Annual Short Course Surf Carnival on Saturday, only a handful of points separated the four local teams for the coveted club point score trophy.
The Bate Bay surf clubs dominated the overall point score with a recount required before Wanda and North Cronulla were declared joint winners from the host club Cronulla and Elouera.
It was an exciting finish to a great day.
- Carnival committee convener Greg Allum
North Cronulla won the new Pulse Property Agents open four-person mixed lifesaver relay. The event started with a 500m run leg followed by swim, board and ski legs with teams free to choose which gender (two males and two females) completed which leg of the race.
The men's 3km Vici Shark Island Ski Race was won by Elouera's Nathan Neale from 50 starters while Wanda's national representative Georgia Sinclair smashed the women's field in a dominant win.
Continuing their domination of the beach sprint and flag events, the FreightPower mixed all age beach relay was won by home club Cronulla.
The Caltex 2km beach runs were won by Kai Hammond of Wanda and North Cronulla's national under-17s champion Tiahna Woodger. The open Ironman was won by North Cronulla star Will Buddand and the open Ironwoman by returning Wanda champion Taylar Paskaric.
The Cronulla carnival has grown to be the major early season event on the local surf lifesaving calendar and continues to feature fast short course racing in the traditional swim, board, ski and run disciplines, complemented by a few boutique races over longer distances.
This year there was a record 1200 under-8s to Masters competitors from 23 surf clubs with more than 3000 people in attendance creating a fun festival atmosphere with supporter stalls, club tents and barbecues in the park.
Supporters included Engine, Hooded, Jolyn and Ohana Ocean Athletes, AFL NSW and Cronulla AFL Sharks who provided prizes. In all, medals, trophies and giveaways totaling more than $7000 were distributed to winners and lucky participants.
One of the highlights of the carnival was the Letizza Pizza competitor with a disability events. The 14 competing athletes were managed by Georgia Carter into swim, board, wade, beach sprint and flag events to the applause of fellow competitors, officials and spectators.
