WANDA SLSC’S TRADIES ONE CLUB CARNIVAL 2024

2024 9TH ANNUAL WANDA SLSC TRADIES ONE CLUB SURF CARNIVAL

On Saturday, 26 October 2024 Wanda Surf Life Saving Club played host to over 1,250 age group, open, masters, and nippers competitors representing 35 Clubs from NSW.

The event was the 9th annual Wanda SLSC Tradies One Club Surf Carnival and also included about 2,000 Mums, Dads, Carers, Spectators, Officials, and volunteer workers.

For the third year running strong surf conditions resulted in the Carnival being split between two venues. Under U14 to Masters aged competitors competed in 2.5m surf just south of the Wanda SLSC Clubhouse and the Under 8 to Under 13 plus inclusive athletes moved to Cronulla Beach where the conditions were more benign.

The overall carnival honours went to the host club Wanda SLSC, winning the Tradies Trophy for highest pointscore with 655 points, followed by Cronulla SLSC on 339 points, South Maroubra on 316 points, Manly in 4th place, North Cronulla in 5th place, and Elouera in 6th place.

The pointscore also included the Surf Boat component of the Carnival that was conducted the previous weekend in more friendly conditions with 150 plus rowers. North Cronulla SLSC was the leading Boat club followed by Wanda in second.

Fiona Sutton, Wanda SLSC President again proudly proclaimed that “The Tradies One Club Surf Carnival is firmly established as one of the leading events on the Surf Life Saving NSW calendar and that it is has strong claims to be one of the largest traditional non championship carnivals conducted in Australia.

“Our carnival continues to bring together members of all ages, gender and ability across multiple generations participating together, enjoying a great day out and demonstrating their outstanding skills. It is a wonderful showcase of everything that is great about Surf Lifesaving and our club.”

Mrs. Sutton continued saying that “These skills include athletic, lifesaving, organisational and teamwork skills” and, when reflecting on the surf conditions expanded to explain “the ability of competitors, the lifesaving capacity of the safety teams, the organisational skills of the organisers and officials, and the team work skills that were on display, particularly between the Wanda and Cronulla Clubs and Sutherland Shire Council Ocean Lifeguard Service were outstanding.”

Mrs. Sutton acknowledged the contribution of the hundreds of volunteers and particularly thanked Wanda members, Cronulla SLSC Crays Chair Mrs. Kasey Diver Tuck and the SSC Ocean Lifeguard Service Team Leader Bede Elphick and their teams for their outstanding assistance and cooperation in assisting to deliver a safe and enjoyable carnival for all.

Mrs. Sutton concluded by especially acknowledging the generous ongoing support from key Wanda SLSC and community partner, Tradies.

The first event at the Carnival on Saturday was the testing Masterton Homes 2km beach run, with Wanda’s World Champion Kai Hammond finishing in 1st place in the Open Men’s, and Wanda’s National Cross Country Medalist Layla White first to finish across the line in the Women’s race.

Unfortunately, due to sea conditions the now traditional Ohana 2km ski paddle was not conducted nor were the Voodoo Dri/Real Play U14 Ironman and Ironwoman events and the Sutherland Nissan Ocean M races.

In the open women’s water events Newport’s Sarah Locke won the Engine Open Surf Race, team mate Olivia Clues took out the Tradies Ironwoman, and Eliza Johnson from Swansea Belmont, navigated the difficult surf to win the Ace Gutters Ski race. Olivia Clues from Newport SLSC took out a double winning in the Infront Board Race, with Wanda’s India Hulbert finishing a strong fourth.

In the open men’s water events, Maroubra’s Jackson McCleery won the Engine Surf Race from Wanda’s Bailey Krstevski in second. Newport’s Charlie Verco won the Infront Board from Elouera’s Charlie Morris and North Cronulla’s Will Budd in third. The Tradies Open Ironman and went to Jackson Borg of Newport SLSC with veteran Jai Furness of Cronulla in third place. The Ace Gutters Ski honours went to Jackson Borg of Newport SLSC from Hobie Smit of Cronulla in second place.

South Maroubra SLSC’s Jett van der Wallen edged out teammates Jake Lynch and Christopher Kondilios to win the Brooks Marc Leabeater Memorial Trophy in the Opens Men’s Sprint. The trophy for this event was presented by Marc’s parents Larry and Tania during the VIP speeches in Wanda’s clubhouse.

Swansea Belmont’s Phoebe Doran won the Brooks Open Women’s Sprint, from North Cronulla’s Kaitlyn Wiliam and Scarlett Hoerr in third. South Maroubra’s Jake Lynch battled hard to win the Kareena Hospital’s Open Men’s Beach Flags. Emerson Leadbeatter from Swansea Belmont took out Kareena Hospital’s Open Women’s Beach Flag with Kayla Pryde from North Cronulla in third.

Because of the difficult surf conditions, the Tradies Open Mixed 6 Person Taplin Relay was switched to separate Women and Men’s 3 person events. The strong Swansea Belmont club secured wins in both races.

At Cronulla Beach the stars of the Inclusive events were North Cronulla’s Taj Withers who won the Surf and Board Races, team mate Laura Cropp who won the Beach Sprint, and Wanda’s Darcy Gilbert who won the Wade Race. Also exciting were the 80 U8 competitors who enjoyed the carnival.

For the full list of results please refer to Live Heats for the One Club and Surf Boat and links.

Wanda SLSC looks forward to hosting their 10th Annual Tradies One Club Carnival in 2025 and building on the tradition and success of past years.