The Annual Newcastle Permanent SLSCC Junior Branch Championships was held on the 2nd February 2020 at Copacabana SLSC. As part of these Championships, SLSCC recognised 28 under 14’s as Junior Lifesaver of the Year nominees from 15 surf clubs and held the first SLSCC Inclusive Branch Carnival.
For the Newcastle Permanent SLSCC Junior Branch Championships, the conditions on the day made for some excellent racing, especially in the under 14s. On the sand, under 14s competitors, Lilly Hofer of Killcare and Noah Nakagawa of Wamberal took out the Beach doubles in Sprint and Flags. While in the water, Lizzy Shearer of Shelly Beach topped the podium in the Female Surf Race and Ironwoman ahead of rival Davara Marshall of Umina and in the Males, Jed Hoyland of Umina came out on top in the Surf Race and Ironman ahead of the stacked under 14 field.
In the younger age groups, Hamish Taylor- Martin of MacMasters Beach took out the under 13 Board and Ironman, while in the under 11s Hayden McGregor of Wamberal was too good in the Surf Race and Ironman, and on the Beach in the under 9s Casey Paige of Terrigal brought home gold in the Sprint and Flag events.
All fifteen (15) clubs participated this year with Avoca Beach taking top honours winning the overall point score followed by Terrigal and Umina respectively.