Nippers shine

SOME of Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club’s youngest competitors took to the sand and water for three big days of competition over the long weekend.

Penny Taylor was one of a large group of talented Nippers who represented the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club at the state titles over the long weekend.

The 2026 Victorian junior titles attracted close to an estimated 800 competitors, representing various clubs from across the state.

While sunshine blanketed competitors for the majority of the three-day event, sea conditions proved challenging on Saturday.

Day one on Friday saw competitors from under 9 through to under 13 hit the sand for beach runs, flags, sprints and relays.

Beach sprints and relays continued on Saturday, alongside board, wade and surf races, and qualifying and semi-final rounds of the Ironperson events.

Day three on Sunday was ‘teams day.’

The Warrnambool club was well represented across the weekend and finished the meet with 190.75 championship points.

Several members of the Warrnambool club took home state titles.

Congratulations to the following competitors who became state champions:

Under 12 – boys board rescue Lachie Kerr and Rhys Beddows; boys board race Lachie Kerr.

Under 11 – boys aqua cam Flynn Burleigh, Lenny Chiller, Finn Fogarty and George Green; boys board relay Flynn Burleigh, Lenny Chiller and Finn Fogarty; boys surf race Lenny Chiller; boys ironman Lenny Chiller; girls board relay Harper Griffin, Mollie Ward and Arabella Campbell.

Other placings were as follows:

Second place:

Under 11 – boys ironman Flynn Burleigh; girls surf team Mollie Ward, Harper Griffin, Arabella Campbell and Lotte Forsterling; girls beach run Lotte Forsterling.

Under 10 – boys board race Patrick Kerr; girls board race Marie Beddows; boys wade relay Patrick Kerr, George McCulloch, Milo Warburton and Banjo Auld; boys board relay George McCulloch, Patrick Kerr and Banjo Auld.

Under 9 – girls board race Peggy Chiller.

Third place:

Under 13 – boys board relay Cole Burleigh, Finn Dwyer and harry Obst; boys beach flags Cole Burleigh; boys board rescue Cole Burleigh and Finn Dwyer; boys beach run Harry Osbt; girls board relay Gretel Ryan, Maggie Corbett and Indi Griffin.

Under 12 – girls board relay Violet Greening, Penny Taylor and Chloe Campling; girls board rescue Penny Taylor and Violet Greening; girls beach relay Violet Greening, Penny Taylor, Maggie Shiells and Chloe Campling.

Under 11 – boys board race Lenny Chiller; girls board race Mollie Ward.