The NSW team had the home-state advantage, with the competition held at Freshwater Beach and Warrin-gah Aquatic Centre, on the Northern Beaches of Syd-ney, last Sunday January 24 and Monday, January 25.

Competitors from around NSW took on the other states in a range of events including, ocean swim, board and surf ski races, board rescue, ironperson and pool rescue events.

The region’s five representatives in the NSW team did themselves and their clubs proud by winning individual events and placing well.

It was 15-year-old Jess Collins’ fourth Interstate Championships but the Redhead junior was this year competing two years above her age group.

Jess won the 2009 under 15s ironperson and ocean swim but said before the titles she was expecting tougher competition in the older age group.

The age difference didn’t bear on her results, though.

Jess still managed to win the under 17 girls board and ocean swim events.

Also from the Redhead club, Hannah Trypaz, 15, won the under 15 girls’ board race and finished right on the winner’s heals in the ocean swim.

Competing in the pool on Saturday, Swansea-Belmont lifesaver Emily Chaffey, 17, won the 100-metre mannequin rescue.

Emily jumped on a surf ski to race again on Sunday, finishing second in the under 17 girls event.

It was Emily’s fifth time competing at the interstate titles but the first year she had raced in the surf-ski event.

It wasn’t just the girls from Lake Macquarie taking the prizes over the weekend.

Drafted to represent the Northern Territory, Isaac Morgan from the Redhead club paddled home first in the under 17 boys’ board race.

Isak Costello, 14, from the Swansea-Belmont club, finished fourth in the ocean swim, and Sam Earp, also from Swansea-Belmont, finished second in the 100m mannequin rescue and was a member of NSW’s winning 50m pool medley and 25m mannequin tow relay teams.

The interstate competition was still in full swing when The Star went to print but the NSW team was in front on points.