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PALM Beach Surf Club have once again emerged as the most dominant club at this year’s 17th Battle of the Boats surf carnival.
Visiting boat crews from Sydney up to Woolgoolga as well as three local clubs made up 155 crews who took to the surf at Elizabeth Beach last weekend.
More than $8,500 in prize money was up for grabs across eight age categories as well as the Tim Knight Relay.
Sydney’s Palm Beach put on an impressive display, placing first and third in the Under 23 Women’s and first in both the Reserves and the Open Men’s events.
Another stand out Sydney club was Collaroy who placed first in the Under 23 Men’s event and second in the Under 19s, the Under 23 women’s and the Tim Knight Relay.
Locally, Forster Surf Club Masters men’s crew placed 10th overall, Pacific Palms Masters men’s crew placed 12th and the Cape Hawke Masters women’s crew placed fourth in their event.
This year, the carnival acted as a fundraiser for former club member Rob Scott who was brutally assaulted while visiting Fresno in the US last year. Mr Scott is currently in a special unit for brain injuries at a rehabilitation centre in Ryde.
The Pacific Palms Surf Club put a levy on the carnival entry fee this year and all the proceeds from that as well as the sale of oysters, prawns and beer sold on the day are to go to Rob Scott’s recovery fund.
Pacific Palms Surf Club member and organiser Jerrad Allen said one of the biggest highlights over the two days was the under 19s race which was renamed ‘Robbo’s Race’ as a dedication to Rob Scott and his family.
“Members went around with donation tins at the event so we are still calculating the final amount but we managed to raise $1500 just from the entry fee alone which is great,” Mr Allen said.
“The event was a big success. We had 155 crews entered and 190 races over the two days.
“Conditions were really good on both days. We had a nice swell, it would have been about 1 to 1.5 metres which wasn’t too big but made it challenging enough for crews.”
Mr Allen thanked all of the local support and to the club’s dedicated volunteers who assisted throughout the carnival.