Sunday March 8 and the 2020 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships wraps up following two weeks of gruelling competition. With a total of 6,000 competitors, 600 volunteers and 15,000 spectators, the host, Swansea Belmont SLSC had their hands full at Blacksmiths Beach.
Raking up a total of 568 points, Newport SLSC wins the final Opens Championships event – a seventh championship title in a row and a huge accomplishment.
Darren Warrener, the Competition Director at Newport shared his excitement:
“Seven in a row is an outstanding achievement for any club [especially when all competitors] blend and gel well together […]. The Open Taplin Finals are always the premier event – outside the ironperson – and Newport won both […] and then Max to win the Open Ironman and Emily [winning] the Open Female. “
By all accounts, the single most impressive trait that Newport athletes demonstrated collectively during the two weeks of competition is leaving egos at the door. Solidarity, support and encouragement – all character building, all honourable.