Paddle power: Hannah Minogue.
Maybe it’s the sand, but Helensburgh-Stanwell Park has cemented its reputation as the best Surf Life Saving club in NSW when it comes to producing champion beach sprinters.
Competing in the annual state championships over the weekend on the Central Coast, Helensburgh-Stanwell Park bagged a swag of medals in sprinting and flags events, including a whopping eight gold.
Blake Drysdale won the open men’s flags and was second in the sprint, Laura Shorter claimed the open women’s sprint crown and Laura Humphries took out the open women’s flags.
Kaitlin Mott and Daniel McKellar took line honours in both the under 17 women’s and under 17 men’s sprints, while the club also won gold medals in the open women’s, open men’s and under 19 men’s beach relays.
Wendell Sailor’s son Tristan shone for Helensburgh-Stanwell Park with a pair of silver medals in the under 15 men’s sprint and flags.
Tom Dewey was second in the under 19 men’s flags and third in the sprint.
Chris Doran got a silver medal in the 2km beach run, while the club also won bronze medals in the under 15 men’s and under 19 women’s beach relays.
Warilla-Barrack Point was another club to leave its mark at the state titles.
Ben Carberry won the under 19 men’s single ski, Brett Williams prevailed in the under 17 men’s tube rescue, while Scott Smith and Maddison Prior took out the mixed double ski.
Smith teamed with his brother and Olympic gold medallist Dave Smith to grab a silver medal in the open men’s double ski. The Smith siblings then joined clubmate Hayden White to claim third spot in the single ski relay.
Emily Rosskelly finished third in both the under 15 ironwoman and single ski, while Callan Cuthbert was third in the under 17 men’s single ski and Lara Pecchiari took third in the open ironwoman.
Warilla also got bronze medals in the under 17 men’s single ski relay, under 19 men’s single ski relay and under 17 men’s surf teams.
Shellharbour’s Zoe Elkerton was a standout, winning the open women’s surf race and under 19 women’s surf race.
Bulli’s Hannah Minogue finished second in the open women’s single ski and teamed with clubmate Jamie Brinkworth to grab second in the open women’s double ski.
Bulli’s under 23 men’s surf boat crew was second behind winners Batemans Bay, Austinmer claimed the under 23 women’s title, while Helensburgh-Stanwell Park won gold in the under 19 men’s surf boats.
Bulli’s Beau Wheeler was second in the under 19 surf race and third in the board while clubmate Mali Taylor finished second in the under 15 women’s tube rescue.
Silver medals came for Bulli in the under 19 men’s single ski relay, under 19 tube rescue and surf boat relay.
The northern suburbs club also picked up bronze medals in the under 17 women’s surf teams and under 19 women’s double ski.
Former Australian belt race champion Matt Freeman of Bulli finished fourth, narrowly missing his bid for a medal after recently coming out of retirement.