MEDIA RELEASE Thursday February 20, 2020
EIGHT LOCAL NIPPERS NAMED AGE CHAMPIONS AT SEASPRAY CARNIVAL
Eight young competitors from Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club were last weekend named age champions at the Seaspray Nippers Carnival.
It was the last local nippers carnival of the season for around 100 youngsters from Seaspray, Woodside and Lakes Entrance and their families and friends.
A strong south-easterly wind forced the water events to be moved to nearby Merrimans Creek, while the beach events proceeded as planned nearby on the sand.
Among Seaspray competitors to take age champion honours were:
Under 15 girls: Charlotte Grogan, who won the beach flags, sprint, surf swim, and the board race;
Under 14 girls: Zali Gallagher, who placed first in the beach flags, sprint and board race, second in the iron nipper and third in the swim;
Under 13 girls: Charlotte Stephenson, who came first in the board race and iron nipper, second in the swim and third in the flags;
Under 11 boys: Leo Stephenson, who won the board race and beach flags and came second in the sprint, swim and iron nipper;
Under 11 girls: Lily Canfield, who was first in the swim, board race, board rescue and iron nipper, and third in the flags and sprint;
Under 10 boys: Max McLay, who won all six of his events (flags, sprint, wade, swim, board and iron nipper);
Under 9 boys: Patrick Centra, who had wins in the flags, sprint and wade, came second in the board and swim, and third in the iron nipper; and
Under 8 boys: Jack McLay, who placed first in the flags and board, second in the sprint and third in the swim.
Lola Van Berkel was among Seaspray’s other outstanding competitors. Lola won the wade, swim, board and iron nipper events in the under 10 girls.
Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club President Amanda Castle said the carnival was a great way to begin winding up the season for the young competitors.
“The last nippers session for the current season will be held this Sunday morning, before the Seaspray club championships are held on Saturday, February 29,” Mrs Castle said.
“This whole-of-club carnival will be a chance for our young nippers to compete alongside the club’s youth, senior and masters competitors, including those who’ve won titles at a state and national level.
“It’s a great day for the club’s members to get together on the beach and enjoy a fun day of competition. I’d like to encourage people to come down to Seaspray on the 29th, enjoy a meal at the bistro and see just what our local surf life savers can do.
“It’s been a terrific season for our young nippers, including many who were taking part for the first time, and the club is proud of what they have all achieved.”
Ready to compete in the under 12 board rescue event representing Seaspray are (from left) Evie Humphris, Tara Dihood, Frances Dwyer and Lana Douthat.
Seaspray’s Charlotte Armstrong narrowly defeats Morgan McConville from Woodside to win the under 11 girls flag race.
Lily Canfield was named the under 11 girls age champion after winning the surf swim, board race, board rescue and iron nipper, and coming third in the beach flags and beach sprint.
Around 100 excited and enthusiastic youngsters from Seaspray, Woodside and Lakes Entrance competed at the last local carnival for nippers at Seaspray at the weekend.
Lola Van Berkel was among Seaspray’s top performers, winning the wade, swim, board and iron nipper events in the under 10 girls.