By Gen Fraser
NOOSA Nippers hit the beach for the Under 11-15 Branch titles at Mooloolaba Spit on the weekend, with perfect conditions on an otherwise rough day on east coast beaches.
The Spit delivered perfect 2-3 foot clean waves which were ideal for the Noosa competitors with 50 club members qualifying for State Championships.
Noosa’s Under 11 team did exceptionally well for their first attempt at branch with plenty of podium finishes and many state qualifiers. With nine events on the day, the youngest Noosa team members remained in high spirits and showed determination beyond their years. The older age groups again showed the depth of talent of the club with Joe Gaulding winning Life Saver of the Year.
The Under 11 girls surpassed themselves with Gold for Mia Jeffries in the beach run and a silver for Lily Lethbridge. Zoe Longhurst joined Mia and Lily in qualifying for the Individual board with Zoe coming third, Mia fifth and Lily 12th. This trio also won silver in the board relay. Alice Moore joined this group as the fourth member of the Cameron relay where Noosa qualified in sixth position. Mia and Zoe also took out silver in the board rescue.
Will Petersen came fourth in the sand for the Under 11 beach run and then joined teammate Eddie Walter to secure third in the board relay. Noosa came third in the Under 11 Cameron Relay, thanks to the combined effort of Ben Lorentson, Flynn Thompson, Blake Maxwell and James Gelling.
Belle Anderssen came third in the Under 12 Ironwoman and Amy Kibble came 12th, with both girls qualifying for State Championships. Belle and Amy were joined by Fran Cogill in the Board relay where they all qualified for States after coming in fifth place.
The Under 12 Boys represented the club well with Jackson Smith coming 7th in the 1 kilometre beach run and qualifying for State Championships. He will be joined there by his team mates in the Cameron Relay, Charlie Archer, Felix Drake and Lachlan Dudgeon who came fifth.
The Under 12 Noosa team also qualified for State in the board relay with Curtis Block, Jackson Smith and Jed Hamblin coming sixth. Charles Archer came an admirable 11th in the U12 Ironman and will be joining his team mates at States.
Under 13 girls Mia Woodburn and Meg Weber came third and seventh in the 1km beach run while team mates Belle Anderssen and Maggie Harmer came fifth in the board rescue.
Jayden Morrow won the U14 Ironman and paired with Ted Dixon to take silver in the board rescue. Kai Thompson came second in his beach run for the Under 13 boys and joined Zale Outram in the board rescue for a silver.
Electra Outram, Emily Lethbridge and Riley Dixon secured the silver in the Board relay.
These spectacular results will see Noosa take a team of 50 to the State Championships in North Burleigh in March. We are proud to have such a strong team representing our community this season, and good luck to them all.
