National ironman series qualifier Kye Taylor played a major role in Swansea-Belmont rising from seventh last year to third at the open NSW surf lifesaving titles on the weekend.
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Taylor, who last week won the Next Gen series at Kingscliff to secure a spot in the 2021-22 national ironman series, claimed his first state board title.
He took out the under-19 board race and teamed with Beau McGregor to win the under-19 board rescue. Taylor was also third in the under-19 ironman and second in the under-19 taplin relay with Nick Stoddart and Josh Murphy. Taylor also grabbed silver in the open board relay with Stoddart and Hayden Copping.
The efforts helped Swansea-Belmont, who were co-hosts with Redhead this year, finish on 241 points in the championship, well clear of fourth-placed Manly (151). Powerhouses Newport won with 466, from Wanda (390).
Swansea-Belmont head coach Ryan Cook was proud of the performances from his squad.
"It was a fantastic effort," Cook said.
"We had some really good team and individual results all round. It was just a really good club effort.
"I think we ended up with five silver board relay medals across the club.
"I thought we could get top five and that would be a great achievement, so to get top three was outstanding."
Also from Swansea-Belmont, Bailey Connelly was the under-19 male ski champion and double ski winner with Murphy.
Bella Williams, who was second in the Next Gen ironwoman series last week, won the under-19 ski relay with Eliza Johnson and Lara Manning. Williams, Johnson and Isabella Campbell won the under-19 female taplin relay. Campbell took out the under-17 surf race.
Johnson took gold in the under-19 ironwoman and single ski.
Zara Foran claimed the under-15 board rescue with Lola Russell. They also went one-two in the surf race with Russell the winner.
Redhead won the open male tube rescue with Jacob Cerniauskas, Justin McMorland, Isaac Morgan and Ethan Whiteman.
Cooks Hill had success with Sidney Forbes in the under-15 male board race and Lani Waller in the under-15 ironwoman. Waller also combined with Charlie Burns, Imogen Egan and Tiana Sargeant to win the under-15 surf team race. Waller, Burns and Sargeant teamed to take gold in the under-15 girls board relay.
On the sand, Fingal Beach's Grace Hewitt was a standout for the Hunter, claiming the open women's and under-17 beach sprints. She was also second in the under-17 flags.
Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
