Juniors take top awards

Clare St George from Corrimal and Mitchell Baillie from Helensburgh-Stanwell Park have been named the Illawarra Branch Junior Surf Life Savers of the Year.

The 14-year-olds won from nominees from each of the 17 Illawarra clubs, with their awards welcomed by their clubs.

Corrimal president Jason Northey was delighted with Clare’s award and said the whole club was proud of her efforts and commitment over many years.

“Clare has been with the club since joining as a nipper and helps out wherever she can,” Mr Northey said.

“Her family has been very involved also and Clare is a real role model for the younger nippers in the club and something for them to aspire to.

“We wish her every success in the state finals.” he said.

Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC was delighted with Mitchell Baillie’s Illawarra award.

“Mitch is our junior club captain and helps out with nippers – in fact he is someone every junior in our club can look up to,” club publicity officer Daniel Robberds said.

Their awards were announced at the McDonalds Junior Carnival on Sunday.

It was a busy weekend for Surf Life Saving Illawarra and associated clubs.

Saturday was the McDonald’s nipper clinic at Bulli Beach, held for the younger surf life savers and nippers to learn from experienced surf life saving champions how to improve their skills.

The clinic was designed to offer advice on training and racing strategies, nutrition, swimming, craft and beach racing techniques and general surf awareness.

Many young members from under nine to under-14 attended the clinic and had an enjoyable and instructive day.

On Sunday, a number of these nippers and many more came out for the McDonald’s Junior Surf Life Saving Carnival, which was also held at Bulli Beach.

More than 500 young surf club members from the Illawarra, South Coast and Sydney clubs competed in the events.

Two hotly contested events included the under-13 and under-14 Ironman and Ironwoman titles, with Kieran Bonnin from Wollongong City winning the under-14 boys and Cassandra Nayboczka from Warilla-Barrack Point winning the under-14 girls event.

Toby Lunney from Sandon Point and Kari Picton from Towradgi took out the under-13 events.

Winners of the events were awarded medals.

There were also other giveaways throughout the day, including towels, visors and bags and four nipper racing boards which were awarded to Thirroul, Sandon Point, Port Kembla and Eloura Surf Life Saving Clubs.