MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Group of 21 Nippers, management and supporters from Southern Cross Surf Lifesaving Club on Sunday, 24 March, travelled to Port Elizabeth to compete in the annual Surf Lifesaving Nipper Nationals at Kings Beach.
For 18 of these Nippers, it was their first taste of lifesaving sport.
In August 2018, they started with a learn to swim programme which enabled them to do their awards. The programme is partly sponsored by Frankie Frog and Eagle Wings Transport. Their continuing support attributed greatly to the success of the programme. Eagle Wings also contributed majorly towards transport to the nationals.
This is the second year that the championship was held as a combined champs of surf action and still water action, jam-packed into one week for all different age groups, with the masters that competed on 24 March, and the juniors and seniors from 28 to 30 March.
The Nipper championship took place from 25 to 27 March with a total of about 800 Nippers and 34 clubs competing for the crown of top competitor and top club in the country.
The Southern Cross Surf Lifesaving Club top competitors were Ricardo Mouers, who came fifth in the Boys U13 Flags and sixth in Beach Run. He also made it to the semis in Beach Sprints. Rich-Leigh Michaels came eighth in the Boys U9 Flags and made it to the semis in Beach Sprints.
Chloë Ackerman came eighth in Beach Sprints and made it to the semis in Girls U11 Flags.
The club's U10 Beach Relay Team consisting of Joshua Jantjies, Granville Zeegers, Zidane Munnik and Rich-Leigh Michaels were excellent in their performance and just missed out on the finals, as were the U12 Beach Relay team consisting of Chloë Ackerman, Jordan Kannemeyer, Travonne Bacon and Royden Kannemeyer.
The senior team joined on 28 March, when their competition commenced. The senior Beach Relay Team consisting of Mbongeni Lingani, Ashwin October, Gladwin Saal and Akhona Mabuto came eighth and Warden Briesies came tenth in Beach Run.
Even though they did not bring back any medals, the spirit and the results were good especially since this was the debut competition for most of the Southern Cross competitors.
The overall winner of the Nipper Championship was Durban Surf Lifesaving Club.
We are extremely grateful to all our other sponsors; we value your selfless contributions, a spokesperson for Southern Cross said.
The Southern Cross U10 relay team: Joshua Jantjies, Granville Zeegers, Zidane Munnik and Rich-Leigh Michaels.
The Southern Cross Senior Relay team (from left): Mbongeni Lingani, Ashwin October, Gladwin Saal and Akhona Mabuto.
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