As the still water competition season comes to a close, the mighty Woolacombe Nippers have made waves yet again clinching the title of National Champions at the prestigious National Stillwater Championships for an astounding 12th year in a row!
The competition is held annually at Cardiff International Sports Village on the grand stage of the 50-meter Olympic pool. For some of the Nippers it was their first ever competition in a pool of that size but they showed remarkable courage and determination.
Every year the event gets bigger and this year over 820 competitors took part from 29 clubs from all over the UK, including a new club entrant from Loughborough.
Day one of the competition saw the older Nippers, 11-13 years, set the bar at a super high standard. Despite fierce competition from other clubs, the Woolacombe Nippers dominated board, swim, relay and rescue events.
The younger Nippers, 8-10 years, opened Day two with a bang and maintained the lead throughout the day with equally as impressive performances. Despite some incredibly close races, the Nippers’ level of preparation and commitment to their teammates shone through, giving them that extra pace and edge needed for success.
It was another masterclass in board rescue performance as Woolacombe took nine of the twelve golds medals up for grabs across the six age groups, followed by an impressive two silver and four bronze.
The results came in shortly after the final stroke was swum… Gyllyngvase finished in third place with 805 points, closely followed by Hayle in second with 992 points. However, Woolacombe surged ahead, taking the top spot with an astonishing 1592 points and retaining the title of National Champions.
Their outstanding performance included 52 gold, 23 silver, and 18 bronze medals, which was over 40% of the medals on offer. Every medal and point secured at the Nationals represents each and every Nippers commitment to training and to their club – Woolacombe SLS really are a formidable force!
“We are incredibly proud of our Nippers for their exceptional performance at the National Stillwater Championships,” said Jacqui Southam , Team Manager of Woolacombe Nippers. “Their hard work and dedication and have truly paid off. We are also truly lucky to have a brilliant community around us to support the club to victory. Congratulations to all our Nippers on this epic achievement!”
The level of organisation behind the scenes is colossal. The event’s success relies heavily on the unwavering support and meticulous planning by the WSLS committee, Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) officials, the numerous helpers, all the parents… and of course every coach supporting and training all year round.
The awards ceremony was held at Woolacombe beach where an astonishing 300 medals from the Stillwater season were handed out across every age group. A very proud moment for everyone involved.
The Nippers train every Saturday at Ilfracombe pool throughout the winter (Sept-May), but once Spring arrives it is beach training on a Sunday morning down at Woolacombe. Our club provides a supportive environment where members can develop their skills and contribute to the success of our team. Whether you’re experienced in SLS or new to the sport, there’s a place for you in our Woolacombe community.
If you are interested in joining our club, then please use the “contact us” section at the top of the website.
