The pinnacle event of surf sports, the Ironman, was staged on Sunday, 28 February, 2010 on Blacksmiths Beach, bringing to a close three days of tough state competition at the New South Wales Surf Life Saving Championship in the Hunter.With a Tsunami warning in place along the NSW coastline, a number of precautions were taken by carnival organisers. The start of competition was delayed and organisers closed the water areas this afternoon for a half hour period, however there was no noticeable change in water levels.
Organisers and competitors were blessed with fair skies and moderate surf conditions for the carnival, which was staged over two successive weekends. The event attracted 8,000 athletes ranging in age from seven to seventy-six, representing 100 NSW surf life saving clubs from Bermagui in the south to Cudgen Headland in the north.
The Ironman and Ironwoman event, made up of swim, board and ski legs, attracted a sizeable crowd to the beach as five-time defending Ironwoman, Manly's Naomi Flood, attempted a sixth consecutive state title, which she won, writing herself into the Ironwoman history books once again with a wave to the beach at the end of the first leg on the board, then stretched the 20 metre gap to a 50 metre break during a power swim around the cans. With the crowd cheering her on, Flood cruised to shore on the ski, smiling as her team mates splashed her on the shoreline before an easy run up the beach.
Local Ironman Scott McCartney put in a great effort for the Cudgen SLSC by winning the Open Board in front of a strong field adding to his Branch, Inter-Branch and New South Wales Country Titles.
Other Cudgen winners were: Ben James who won on the board and Ben with Dylan Klein getting bronze in the board rescue. Mitchell James won silver on the board and younger brother Jarrod placed fourth in the 15 year division.
Russell Zahn won bronze in the Master's Ironman, and the Master's boat crew of Mark Buckman, Peter Quinla, Rob Blyth, Doug Fewtrell and James Blakeney won bronze.
Callum Smith came fourth in the 17 years surf race and sixth in the final of the belt, and Rohan Small came fourth in the Open belt.
This year's state championship, the largest surf sports event in the country, was the last to be held at Swansea Belmont as part of a three year agreement. Next year's championship will be staged at Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club. For more information, visit the website at: www.cudgenslsc.org.au.
