By Mark Heenan
A light on-shore wind and excellent conditions were on hand for enthusiastic Nippers at the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club Junior Championships on Friday 2 March.
The twilight event saw more than 100 juniors take part at Ocean Grove beach, an ideal dress rehearsal prior to this month’s Victorian Life Saving Surf Championships in Warrnambool.
Ocean Grove SLSC Surf Sport Coordinator Shane Bird said the favourable conditions which included a low tide saw Nippers compete in a range of water-based and beach competitions.
“We were extremely fortunate with the conditions,” Bird told the Voice.
“Traditionally on a Friday night during the season we get down to the beach – it is a howling south wester, choppy and messy and horrible.
“So we got down on Friday night to a light on-shore and beautiful conditions.”
Bird said over a 100 Nippers competed in their final trial warm up before the state titles.
“I think was 105 was the final count across all the age groups from Under 8s all the way to Under 13s.
“It was a great turnout – we really tried to run it in a true formal carnival conditions – so the rules were the same and courses were all the same.”
Meantime more than 40 senior Ocean Grove SLSC competitors took part in the Life Saving Victoria Carnival at Point Leo on the Mornington Peninsula on Sunday 4 March.
The Point Leo carnival was held in sunny and mild conditions with a brisk wind accompanied by a small shore break.
It was the final carnival event before the Senior State Championships will be held at the Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday 24 March and Sunday 25 March.
