Ayr Surf Club Made a Successful Splash in the 2024 North Australian Championships

The Ayr Surf Club travelled to Mackay over the weekend for the 2024 North Australian Championships. North Aussies is a 3-day carnival with clubs from as north as Port Douglas to as far south as Mooloolaba uniting for one of Queensland's most iconic volunteer movements, Surf Life Saving.  The Friday consisted of the Pool Rescue competition, where 12 Ayr competitors battled it out in the pool at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex, demonstrating rescue techniques and skills against some very stiff competition. The first event in the pool saw 2 of the Ayr nippers, Charlotte Dale and Taylor Chapman, take silver in the Under 11 Female 100m Patient Tow. In the Under 13 Female 100m Patient Tow, Emma Jones & Milla Chapman took out the bronze medal. Taylor Chapman had a fantastic meet, also grabbing a gold in the U11 Female 50m Brick Carry and a silver in the U11 Female 100m Obstacle Race. Kristy Wassmuth continued from her World Championships Pool Rescue success winning the 40-49 years Female 100m Obstacle Race and getting silver in the 100m Manikin Tow. All competitors did incredibly well undertaking events that they don't normally have the opportunity to compete in.

The action then headed to Mackay Harbour Beach for the weekend, where 20 competitors took to the surf and the sand to tackle the usual Surf Sports Program.  There were some incredible individual and team performances over the carnival with some special mentions to the U11 nippers at their first North Aussies experiencing competing against different clubs for the first time. Charlotte Dale in U11s took out both the board and iron person event gaining gold, with a bronze in her surf race. Taylor Chapman in U11s gained a bronze in her iron person, a silver in the 1km beach run. Charlotte & Taylor also took home a silver in their Board Rescue and combined with Alexandra Moloney in the board relay to grab the Bronze medal. Milla Chapman took gold in both the U13 Female beach sprint and beach flags and gained selection in the Queensland Country Team which heads to the Interbranch Championships later on in the year. Isla Chapman took out the gold for the U15 Female 2km beach run and the bronze in the beach sprint and was named as a reserve for the Queensland Country Team. Ryley Sartori took out Bronze in the U17 Female 2km beach run and Kristy Wassmuth took out bronze in both her Masters surf race and tube race. 

For the first time in decades, Ayr sported 2 R&R (Rescue and Resuscitation) Teams to compete at the Championships. R&R is a more traditional event focusing on simulating rescue and resuscitation skills with precision and finesse. The teams had a great first carnival, after only taking up the event at the beginning of the month, and the U14/15 Team of Briella Wassmuth and Bella Lawry, managed to gain a Bronze medal, and the U13/14 Team of Charlotte Lawry and Emilee Wassmuth took out fourth. The next test of our lifesaving skills will take place in Ayr at the North Barrier Branch Surf Rescue Championships in November.

Contributed with thanks to Kellie Lawry.

In action! Charlotte Dale was awarded gold in U11 Board & Iron Person.
Taylor Chapman, Charlotte Dale & Alexandra Moloney were awarded the bronze title in the U11 Mixed Board Relay.
U14/15 R&R bronze winners Bella Lawry & Briella Wassmuth.
Cole Pontifex in the U13 Male Board Final catching a wave!
Ready set go! U13 nippers at the start of the Female Board Race Semi-Final.
Action shot! Taylor Chapman diving in U11 Female Flags.
Taylor Chapman & Charlotte Dale took out silver in the U11 Female 100m Patient Tow.
Zachary Dale diving into the U14 Male Manikin Tow event.
Emma Jones & Milla Chapman were awarded bronze in the U13 Female 100m Patient Tow.