The first ever inflatable rescue boat meeting hosted by The Lakes SLSC went off without a hitch on the weekend as the state’s top racers consolidated their positions during round two the 2018 NSW Sharkskin IRB Premiership season.
While thousands of eyes were on the royal wedding at Windsor Castle, a coronation of a different kind was taking place on the Central Coast as Caves Beach took another giant leap of dethroning six-time-series winners Kiama Downs.
The South Coast powerhouses are far from done though, and with two rounds left, will be keen to deny their Hunter rivals the chance to be crowned champions on their home beach when the circuit travels to Caves Beach next month.
In what proved to be the biggest ever IRB series meeting almost 350 lifesavers of varying experience gathered at start line for the two-day carnival.
Caves Beach, Kiama Downs and Terrigal repeated their first-round performances to again finish as the top three clubs in the overall standings, while some of the smaller clubs including Bungan Beach and Nobbys picked up some encouraging results.
In the open female division Forster took out the tube race finishing just ahead of North Cronulla and Catherine Hill Bay.
The Sydneysiders bounced back to take out the teams race, while the women’s team from Kiama Downs proved too strong as they took the honours in the open female rescue and mass rescue races for the second consecutive round.
Caves Beach proved too strong in the open male tube race sealing a one/two finish ahead of Queenscliff.
The open male team from Kiama Downs experience mixed success throughout the weekend. They were first past the post in the rescue and mass rescue events before being downed by Caves Beach in the team race.
In other results, the Kiama Downs mixed 35 and over team utilised all their experience to win all their races in that division to build on their performances in the season’s opening round, while Newcastle and Terrigal split honours between them in the 45+ division.
NSW Surf sport manager Rob Pidgeon was delighted with the turnout for what turned out to be an exciting weekend of racing.
“We were extremely lucky with the conditions on the weekend and the weather certainly helped showcase IRB racing at its very best,” Mr Pidgeon said.
“The Lakes did an outstanding job as hosts in their first ever competition of this type, and I would like to congratulate all the athletes, officials and supporters for their efforts.”
The third round of the NSW Sharkskin IRB Premiership Series will be hosted by Umina SLSC on Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3.
2018 NSW Sharkskin IRB Premiership round two point score
- Caves Beach SLSC – 117
- Kiama Downs SLSC – 89
- Terrigal SLSC – 63
- North Cronulla SLSC – 57
- Queenscliff SLSC – 46
- Woonona SLSC – 43
- Forster SLSC – 36
- Catherine Hill Bay – 34
- South Maroubra SLSC – 30
- Newport, North Avoca, and Newcastle SLSC – 28
