The event was for juniors aged from eight to 16 from surf clubs including Macksville-Scotts Head, South West Rocks, Hat Head, Kempsey Crescent Head, Port Macquarie, Tacking Point, Wauchope Bonny Hills and Camden Haven. 

The carnival program was made up of swim, ski and board races. There was also an Ironperson event where competitors swam the course, completed a board paddle and run to the finish. 

Club spokesperson Ben Hosick said weather conditions were pleasant to start the competition but they deteriorated quickly. 

Ben said the sea was ‘heaving’ and this made it very tough for the junior competitors. 

Camden Haven SLSC captain Tony Worton coordinated water safety for the event and was assisted by Kate Dwyer. 

Participating club members shared responsibility to be out in the water, to ensure safety for the competitors. 

Camden Haven SLSC Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) captain Phil Traves had a busy day collecting nippers from the water, who found the conditions too challenging.  

Ben thanked Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSC for supplying an IRB and crew for the carnival. 

Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club is proud of all competitors who took on the conditions and particularly proud of the club’s nippers.

“For many it was their first carnival and they bravely took on the monstrous shore dump,” Ben said. 

The Camden Haven SLSC team was made up of Finlay Baird U13’s, Jesse Bell U14’s, Jazmin Cooke U11’s, Jim Dwyer U13’s, Isabella Ewan U10’s, Sienna Goryan U10’s, Natasha Hodgkinson U12’s, Olivia Hosick U12’s, William Hosick U14’s, Madeline Strong U11’s and Noah Traves U14’s.

The team was led by CHSLSC junior activities coordinator Robert Dwyer. He was assisted by age managers Donna Hamilton, Mel Strong and Stewart Bate.

Ben said the event could not have happened without the small army of dedicated (old and new) volunteers who helped setup, run and clean up.

“These people are the back bone of the club,” he said. 

“They are the kids, mums, dads, uncles, aunts, grandmas and grandpas.”

MNC branch carnival referee Wendy Evans thanked the Camden Haven SLSC for hosting the first junior branch carnival of the season. 

She said the support the committee provided in the planning stages and execution of the carnival was outstanding.