by Melanie Goodman

Unseasonal blustery conditions and ocean swell greeted competitors on the first day of competition at Palm Cove.

Competitors were literally tossed from their surf craft while negotiating the break when, at its worst, also forced teams and individuals out of events.

The seas had calmed a little by the start of Sunday’s events which was a welcome relief for both water safety personnel and competitors alike.
 
Cairns Club was again victorious finishing on 2103 points overall, followed by Ellis Beach on 1593 and Port Douglas third, on 725 points. Etty Bay and Mission Beach were fourth and fifth.

In a breakdown of points it was again an opportunity for Port Douglas Club’s Masters to shine, who despite being a small contingent, finished convincingly in second on 282 points behind Cairns Club on 483 points with Ellis Beach Club in third place on 139 points.

Port’s juniors also fared well finishing third on 403 points behind Ellis Beach 787 points and Cairns 1008 points.

CHECK OUT THE BRILLIANT IMAGE GALLERY FROM SONIA LUKIN BELOW

Age Champions for the Surf Carnival were announced at the close of competition on each day and in keeping with their well-earned successes of late female Master competitors Sara McLeod, Nikki Innes and Kelly McNamara finished Age Group Champions.

With only a point or two between competitors our male contingent performed well but were unable to clinch overall top honours. Grant Knight however, took home a sponsors prize with wins in the Surf Swim, Tube Race and Beach Sprint and second in the Board Race.

In the Masters’ arena the race of the day was awarded to Port’s three-man Taplin Relay team of John Goodman (ski), Ed Lukin (board) and Brian Markham (swim) with a stupendous win in tough conditions.

Our most senior competitor Steve Pollard was inspirational finishing first in the Beach Sprint and Flags, second in the Tube Race and fourth in both the Surf Swim and Board Race.

Port’s only junior to be awarded Age Champion was Oliver Lukin for his outstanding performance in the Under 9 age group with his gold medal position in Flags, silver in the Board Race and Sprint Relay and bronze in the Surf Swim and Wade Relay.

Port, however, boasted three junior competitors receiving special mentions based on reports from Officials. Under 9 Sophie Knight, for the most outstanding Board Race, U14 Dylan Sorensen for fortitude and U12 Che Collins for improvement.
 
After what seemed an eternity for Under 11 to Under 14 competitors, the anxious wait was rewarded for some with the knowledge they had been selected in the North Qld Branch State Team to compete at next year’s Queensland Junior State Championships at Hervey Bay.

Port competitors who made the cut were U11 Derek Sorensen, U12s Mitchell Knight and Mia Devine Cameron, U13 Harry Goodman, U14 Eliza Markham, Alison Munro and Finn Devine Cameron. Jai Hackett, U11 and Simon Kramer U14 were named as reserves.

Under 15 competitors Matthew Quinn, Jesse Hackett, Daniel Walsh and Cahil Rankin fought courageously in both water and beach events. Walsh won two medals, a silver in Flags and bronze in the Beach  
Sprint while Rankin won bronze for the 2km Beach Run. Together the boys won bronze in the Beach Relay.

Under 19 competitors David Munro and Tom Richardson saved themselves for the final beach event, the Flags. In what was a gripping final round. The duo claimed two of the medals on offer, Munro, silver and Richardson, bronze.

Junior competitors brought home a well-earned swag of medals in individual and team events. Port’s junior medal winners were in the U8 age group, Jonte Revell, Flags and Wade Race and Hunta Langley, Flags.

Under 9 medal winners -  Oliver Lukin Flags, Board Race, Surf Swim. Sprint Relay and Board Relay; Harper Woods, Wade Relay, Zane Collins Flags, Beach Relay; Seth Gray, Wade Relay; Guy Edmondson,  
Beach Relay; Kai Ilbury, Beach Relay; Sophie Knight, Wade Race Surf Race, Beach Sprint and Wade Relay.

Under 10 age group - Ethan Pedemay, Board Race and Flags.

Under 11 age group - Derek Sorensen, Surf Swim, Ironman, Board Race, Board Relay and Board Rescue; Jai Hackett, Sprint, 1km run, Flags, Board Relay and Board Rescue; Ryan Stanaway, Board Relay.

Under 12 age group - Mitchell Knight, Surf Swim, Board Rescue and Board Relay; Che Collins, Board Race and Board Relay; Mia Devine Cameron, Board Race and Board Relay; Joshua Lukin, Board Rescue.

Under 13 age group - Harry Goodman, Surf Swim, Ironman, Board Relay, Board Rescue, Cameron Relay, Surf Teams, Beach Relay, Junior All Age Relay; BJ McLeod Board Rescue, Surf Teams, Beach Relay;  
Hamish Doye, Beach Sprint, Beach Relay, Cameron Relay, All Age Relay and Surf Teams; Sophie OGorman Petrack, Board Rescue, Surf Teams and Beach Relay.

Under 14 age group - Alison Munro, Ironwoman, Surf Swim, Board Race, Beach Sprint, Flags, Board Relay, Sprint Relay and Surf Teams; Finn Devine Cameron, Surf Swim, Board Race, Ironman, Beach Sprint,  
Board Rescue, Board Relay, Sprint Relay, Cameron Relay and Surf Teams; Simon Kramer, Junior All Age Relay, Board Relay, Sprint Relay, Cameron Relay, Board Rescue; Dylan Sorensen, Beach Relay and  
Cameron Relay; Sabrina Uhlman, Beach Relay and Junior All Age Relay.

Competitors in the U8 to U10 age groups will now take a break while a small contingent Under 11 to Masters will continue to train in the lead up to the last carnival of 2012, the prestigious North Australian Titles in just a fortnight in Mackay.