Ocean Grove SLSC wins Junior State Championships

OCEAN Grove Surf Life Saving Club has won this year’s Life Saving Victoria Junior State Championships.

OGSLSC came away with 366 points, taking the lead from Mentone Life Saving Club (last year’s champions) who came second with 345.5 points.

Mornington Life Saving Club came in third with 309.5 points.

“Our junior nippers have been training hard throughout the year and we have a very enthusiastic group of volunteer coaches, officials and team managers,” Ocean Grove SLSC president David Pavia said.

“Head coach Sonia Kinsey has the nippers training on Sunday’s in the pool from August, so, this is a great result and recognition of everyone’s hard work.”

Ocean Grove SLSC junior activities manager Darren Ball said it was the first time in recent history that the juniors had won the State Championships title, so they were very proud of themselves.

“It was a great effort across all ages from Under 9 through to Under 14 and our team events were brilliant for us.

“It’s very exciting to see the effort the kids are putting in and how it pays off.

“They beat their own expectations and had the smiles to show it!”

Life Saving Victoria’s sports co-ordinator Kirsty Clark said both days of the competition were very different in terms of beach conditions and weather.

“So, everyone had a chance to experience their ideal, and not-so-ideal conditions,” she said.

“It’s a credit to all at Ocean Grove SLSC that they were able to take first place.”

More than 1,400 junior lifesavers from 36 clubs travelled to Victoria’s south west coast to compete in the two-day event, hosted for the fifth year in a row by Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club.

The event attracted more than 2,000 spectators.