Athletes descend on Denmark for weekend of championships

The recent February/March long weekend saw more than 600 athletes from 23 clubs descend on Ocean Beach, Denmark to contest the 2020 SunSmart WA Masters & Country Surf Life Saving Championships.

Bunbury athletes were once again out in force looking to bag their 26th consecutive country champs title while in the masters arena, North Cottesloe, not content with playing runner up to Trigg Island in recent years, were set to do battle.

Saturday’s country champs events kicked off with light offshore winds providing near perfect conditions as our nippers, who were also vying for state championships qualification, gave their all in the board rescue, board race and Ironman/Ironwoman events, the occasional testing swell providing the perfect challenge for their water skills. The youth and senior competitors battled it out on the sand in beach sprints and beach flags events.

In the masters arena, which saw fierce competition between more than 300 competitors from 20 clubs, it was fantastic to see athletes who usually specialise, jump in to make up teams in unfamiliar events. With many athletes closing out the day with multiple state titles to their name, it was 2019 runner ups North Cottesloe who got the leg up on their competitors, romping home with a convincing win over the field and relegating 2019 victors Trigg Island to 2nd with Mullaloo in 3rd.

The 1km and 2km runs kicked off the country championships program on Sunday morning before the decision was made, due to strong winds and large swell, to cancel all water events. The nippers then went on to contest the beach flags, which was the last of the essential qualifying events.

Congratulations to City of Bunbury who were once again victorious, pocketing an enviable 26th consecutive Country Championship title, and hosts Denmark who took home the handicap pennant. Congratulations also to our nippers who qualified through to the 2020 SunSmart WA Nipper Surf Life Saving Championships.

Get the full Country Championships results here.

Get the full Masters results Championships here.

We would like to extend a thank you to our surf sports and naming rights partner Healthway, promoting the SunSmart message, this championship series would not be possible without their support.

Thank you also to our host club Denmark and to all our officials, referees and water safety personnel who ensured everyone enjoyed the weekend of competition!