Beach battle puts mates and vital skills to the test
TNQ's top nippers and surf life savers will battle it out in the surf at Ellis Beach for supremacy in the North Queensland Branch Championship Carnival on October 7 and 8.
The region's nippers, representing clubs from Port Douglas to Mission Beach, will be among the 250 competitors from throughout North Queensland putting their skills to the test on the sand and in the surf across 25 events.
Events will include sand sprints, board paddling and tube rescues, with Surf Life Saving North Queensland regional manager Rob Davidson saying the public is welcome to watch the region's best life savers as well as the next generation of beach guards in action.
“The skills on show at this carnival are vital components of surf life saving which allow our club members to hone their rescue techniques and enjoy the camaraderie of a competition that brings the Etty Bay, Mission Beach, Cairns, Ellis Beach and Port Douglas clubs together,” he said.
“The public is welcome to watch the volunteers who keep our North Queensland beaches safe and our up-and coming life savers battle it out on the beach and in the water.
"At the close of the event on Sunday we will announce the North Queensland team of nippers who will travel to Alexandra Headlands in March to compete in the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships.
“Volunteer work is the essence of surf life saving and the North Queensland carnival will involve around 675 volunteer hours from officials and water safety personnel, plus hundreds of hours by volunteers preparing and serving homemade food.”
Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club is hosting the event this year to coincide with its 60th anniversary and will be selling raffle tickets to raise money for their club which has just been named the 2017 Queensland Surf Life Saving Club of the Year.
The North Queensland Branch Championship Carnival 2017 is at Ellis Beach on October 7 from 11am to 4.30pm and October 8 from 7.45am to 2.30pm.
