SEASPRAY Surf Life Saving Club hosted its annual championships at the weekend.
The championships were held on Saturday morning in warm conditions with a heavy shore break that challenged both the young Nippers and experienced life savers competing in the swim and wade events.
The strength of the waves forced organisers to move the board races and iron Nipper events to nearby Merriman Creek for the younger competitors, while older club members pitted their skill and strength against the surf – and one another – in the board, ski and iron events.
The club championships signalled the end of the season for the club’s youngest members, but was another valuable opportunity to train and compete for those who’ll be representing Seaspray at this weekend’s state championships at Lorne.
Club president Chris Fleming said the championships marked the end of a season like no other at Seaspray.
“The club championships are an opportunity for our members to come together on the beach and enjoy a morning of friendly competition,” he said.
“For our youth and senior members, competitions of this kind are a way of maintaining their life saving skills to remain ‘rescue ready’. These events are also a great chance for our new families and members of the community to see our experienced life savers in action and compete alongside one another.
“The club is incredibly proud of what our members have achieved this season, particularly our young Nippers who joined us at the beach for the first time.
“The wider community, too, should be proud … and feel confident in the skill and ability of those who watch over them at the beach.
“The coronavirus pandemic forced us to do things differently at the surf club this past year and I am proud of all our members, particularly those who were on patrol, for all they were able to do to keep people safe at the beach.”
While the beach training sessions are now over for the club’s youngest members, beach patrols at Seaspray will continue until April 18. Until then, the beach will be patrolled from 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and public holidays.
Club champions, under sevens: Evie Whittaker and Patrick Morrison; under eights: Ella Francis and Harlow Dowsett; under nines: Kiah Dowsett and Jack McLay; under 10s: Milly O’Brien and Remy Stephenson; under 11s: Max McLay; under 12s: Lillian Canfield and Jett McMahon; under 13s: Jimmy Greenwood and Dean Feltis (shared); under 14s: Charlotte Stephenson, Emma Feltis (shared) and Luke Dwyer; under 15s: Lola Wilson and Luca Centra; under 17s: Kate Ronchi and Zac Bloink; under 19s: Bridget Brown and Tom Fleming; open: Bridget Brown and Loughlin Brown.
