WARRNAMBOOL Surf Lifesaving Club experienced a refreshing change of dominance at the Lifesaving Victoria State Championships over the weekend.
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Historically the male members of the club have dominated the medal tally but in 2019 it was the females who led the charge over the two-day carnival at Warrnambool's Lady Bay.
Six of the female relay teams - the under 17 girls Talplin, ski and board relay and Open girls taplin, board and ski relay teams - all secured gold medals.
While Sophie Thomas, 22, Emma Ragg, Ellie Johnson, and Stella Bridgewater, all 16, led the way on individual front to leave the beach with a swag of medals.
WSLSC senior competition squad coordinator Martin O'Brien said it was refreshing to see the girls take to the front on their home break.
"We had dominated in the men's over a long period of time, especially in the under 17s," he said.
"But now it's great to see those girls taking the opportunity and running with it.
"Having those girls dominate and being great role models gives the younger ones something to aspire to.
Thomas retained her Victorian open iron title and collected the open swim gold as well. She was also part of the open Taplin relay that claimed gold.
Harry McNamara won gold in the under 19 men's board, while Matt Hardiman, 19, continued his dominance on the board with victory in the open men's.
Brayden Casamento and Paddy O’Brien were the final members to collect gold at the titles as they secured victory in the open board rescue.
More than 790 lifesavers traveled to Victoria’s south-west coast to compete in the two-day carnival.
O'Brien said the conditions had been kind to participants and spectators across the weekend's event.
"We were blessed to get such good weather and there was a bit of swell about as well on the Saturday," he said.
"It was clear blue skies and light offshore. On Sunday there was still clean swell but it had dropped and it was a little bit colder on the beach."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
