By Mark Heenan
Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club was crowned senior state champions for the second year running at the Victorian Lifesaving Championships at Apollo Bay over the weekend.
The two-day carnival saw Ocean Grove SLSC grab the top honour with almost 30 clubs from across the state competing at the Life Saving Victoria event on 24 and 25 March.
It caps off an amazing month for Ocean Grove SLSC, the club’s Nippers won overall honours at the Victorian Junior Surf Lifesaving Championships on 10 and 11 March.
Grove finished ahead of second-placed Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club and Melbourne-based Mentone Life Saving Club which came third, while Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club finishing fourth.
Ocean Grove SLSC Competition Manager Bruce Sampson said it was a fantastic result following the club’s Nipper success at Warrnambool.
Sampson confirmed more than 60 senior competitors competed at Apollo Bay plus the additional boat crew, coaches, club officials and supportive family members also made trip.
“Proud – very much so – it was a team effort and really well done,” Sampson told the Voice.
“It was similar margin and result to last year’s titles.”
He said weather and surf conditions varied at Apollo Bay across the two days with rain, high winds and sun breaking through.
