The InterClub World Championship trophies capped off an incredible 18 days of beach, ocean and pool competition across National Teams, Masters and InterClub Teams including more than 5000 competitors from almost 50 countries. 

In the first of the final three events of the Open InterClub competition, the Women’s Oceanwoman Race, it was Naomi Scott (BMD Northcliffe) who made her move in the swim moving well away from the rest of the field who were not out of the water as she entered the board leg. 

Before her competitors knew what was happening she had launched ahead even further timing a wave to perfection and continuing her lead to the finishing line ahead of Lizzie Welborn (Newport) and Lucy Derbyshire (Surfers Paradise) in third.

Speaking after the race, Scott said the words ‘World Champion’ sounded good after a hectic week of competition.

“I knew going into this race that I didn’t have a whole lot left to give after racing for eight days, so I knew if I took it out hard in the swim and tried to give myself a lead that I’d have a bit of room to die towards the end, which I did.”

“I’m pretty lucky I was in tune with the ocean today and could line up a few good waves on the way in.”

“I just tried to keep my focus on moving forward and tried not to look behind me. I’ve been in front in a few races and panicked when I looked behind me, so I was just trying to keep focused on myself and what I needed to do.”

“It’s such a big team effort, I have one of the greatest support systems behind me and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. I can’t thank them enough. The girls I train with every day are some of the best so I’m very grateful to push myself against them each day. I love seeing them get good results as well but it’s pretty special to get this one for me.”

In the Men’s race, Finn Askew from Surfers Paradise SLSC led all the way through the brutal M-shaped Oceanman course with a wave at the end bringing the chase pack close for a sprint finish to the line, but it wasn’t enough for Matt Bevilacqua (BMD Northcliffe) and Jackson Borg (Newport SLSC) to get up to the 2024 World Champion.

“Far out, it’s pretty surreal. I’m so pleased; that’s my greatest achievement to date and I can’t thank everyone around me enough…I recently lost a family member that’s very important to me, my pop, and I feel like he was there with me today which was very special,” Askew said.

“It was a pretty awesome race; I had a bit of a slow start in the swim but I worked my way through the field. My Coolangatta Gold legs were a bit slow on the beach, but we’ll build on the speed there.”

“I ran it pretty processed based, so I’m stoked to come out on top. It’s amazing, I want more.”

In the final race of the World Championships, Sunshine Coast’s Alexandra Headlands brought home the Mixed Ocean Lifesaver Relay to become the first World Champs in the new event, with Paris Olympic Medallist Lani Pallister, Ironman Jett Kenny, Emma Woods and Brayden Casamento celebrating at the finish line.

Jett Kenny said it was incredible to do it with such a great team. 

“This team could have gone any way, we’ve got so many incredible athletes down at Alex, and for a club that doesn’t pay anyone, we’re just here because we want to be, it’s pretty cool to be able to call ourselves World Champions.”

Teammate Lani Pallister agreed, “I’m just stoked to come away with a win for Alex.”

“It’s been a busy couple of months, I nominated for this last minute on the day I got home from the Olympics. I gave the Club a call and ended up entering. I’m pretty unfit at the moment, just doing what I want, but it’s always amazing spending time with the people I grew up with and some of my best friends, so it’s been incredible.”

“It’s a big family club and we’re all there because it’s a great club, we’re not paid anything it’s just because we’re good people and we love it there.” 

In the Beach Flags, it was a double World Championship for Mollymook with Sam Zustovich and Payton Williams winning the Men’s and Women’s Finals. 

Across at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, it was another great day for Australian Youth Team member and Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park athlete Bianca Rayward taking out the Gold and World Championship Title in the Women’s 100m Rescue Medley to add to her haul of medals during National Teams and InterClub. Following her to the wall was big sister Jasmine celebrating her 18th birthday with a Bronze.

Rayward said she was happy to end a massive program on a high note. “It was a small PB time for me, I’m really happy with that.”

“I was really worried going into that one off the back of the 100m carry, so I was pretty nervous, but I knew I just had to relax, get my heart rate down and just dig in.”

Currumbin Beach Vikings clubbie and Australian team member Riley Brennan finished off his own World’s campaign with another gold in the Men’s 100 Rescue Medley.

“As soon as I touched the wall, I knew I’d done it. To go back-to-back, I’m just over the moon.”

I’ve put so much work into this, training with Currumbin Beach. I knew MJ [Matthew Lowe] was going to go out hard, so I just stayed with him and got him in the end.”

Brayden Woodford from Bulli SLSC won the closest race of the day in the Men’s 100m Manikin Carry with Fins with a 0.20 of a second victory ahead of Heath Corry and was rapt with his first InterClub pool gold medal.

“This morning Heath [Corry] qualified in first for the final with a blistering 100, he went 48, I think. Luckily, I was in the last heat and was able to be a bit tactical and go a little slower, saving my energy a bit for that way home in the final. I knew I had to put the pressure on in that first 50 so I could work my magic.”

“Ocean and pool are two very different yet very similar events. Sometimes it’s hard to back it up in the pool but coming from that Surf Swim win was a very massive positive for me. To take a win from the InterClub in the pool, I’m pretty stoked.”

INTERCLUB POINT SCORES:

Youth combined beach/ocean & pool:
588 Maroochydore SLSC
582 Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC
559 BMD Northcliffe SLSC

Open combined beach/ocean & pool:
936 BMD Northcliffe
705 Rane Rosse (Italy)
415 Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC