Despite both events being program-med for the Saturday, January 30 at Dixon Park, the surf boats were post-poned to the following day, Sunday, January 31, to coincide with the Peters Series round seven hosted by Swansea Belmont due to the testing conditions.

In a number of straight out finals, it was about surf skills and a little bit of luck with waves giving crews a run home, almost from the halfway mark.

Nobbys Reefers grabbed the gold in the open men’s event followed by Swansea Belmont Trough Lollies and Dixon Park Dukes.

Nobbys also dominated the open women’s event in a very close finish for first and second.

In the reserves, Redhead clinched the title from Caves Beach with Cooks Hill in third.

In the U19s Caves won gold, Red-head the silver and Cooks Hill bronze.

In the fastest growing division, the U23 men’s, Cooks Hill were victorious over the crews from Swansea Belmont in second and third.

In the U23 women’s Swansea Belmont Buttercups were too strong for Cooks Hill.

The masters division was won by Caves Beach, followed by Cooks Hill and Swansea Belmont in third.

It was a display of strength in the Hunter Branch leading into the Australian Surf Boat Rowers League this weekend, February 6 to 7, in Wollong-ong, and state titles only four weeks away, also to be hosted locally at Blacksmiths Beach.

Fingal Beach will once again host the Branch Championships for the majority of junior and seniors this weekend, February 6 to 7.

Go to www.hsls.org.au for all results including the Masters Branch Championships.