CAVES Beach is gearing up to host the final round of the 2018 NSW Sharkskin IRB Premiership Series this weekend.
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A hardy bunch of more than 300 competitors will make the journey to Lake Macquarie for what promises to be a thrilling two-days of inflatable rescue boat racing.
Although the state and national championships are yet to be held, it is the challenge of being consistent over a series of meetings that really stokes the competitive fire of those souls who count themselves as members of the IRB family.
Thanks to the intervention of Mother Nature that forced Round 3 at Umina Beach to be cancelled, it’s been nearly a month since the IRB crews were last able to enjoy a competitive race.
And there is a feeling that something very special will happen this weekend.
Hosts Caves Beach SLSC will be out to make history and crown their season to remember on their own break.
Another strong performance in these familiar waters will be enough to see it declared overall winners of the Premiership Series, ending a six-year-winning streak compiled by Kiama Downs SLSC.
This year has been somewhat of a rebuilding year for the South Coast powerhouse.
The defending champions have managed to overcome the loss of a number of experienced competitors this season, and their results thus far, barring a dramatic final round, should ensure a top-two finish.
From there it’s anyone guess, with a chasing pack consisting of Terrigal, Queenscliff, North Cronulla, Woonona, and South Maroubra keen to make their mark.
In the rest of the field the teams from Bilgola, Bungan Beach, and Mona Vale are unavailable for this weekend’s competition due to other commitments, while Stockton SLSC will make their return.
This weekend marks the fourth time that Caves Beach SLSC has hosted a premiership round in its current format.
“In the past we’ve held the opening round of the season so it makes a nice change for us to be able to hold the last round of the series,” Troy Grieves, the competition manager for Caves Beach SLSC, said.
“Preparations have been going really well and the beach looks great. The forecast at the moment is for 1.2 metres of swell so hopefully it will hold steady and we can get a good weekend of racing.
“It’s been a fantastic season for our club with our very young team performing especially well in the under-23 races.
Some are now making their mark in open competition so it’s certainly exciting to watch them perform on their home beach,” he said.
If this winner-takes-all competition isn’t enough to whet the appetite, this weekend also marks one final opportunity for the competitors to put their names at the forefront of the minds of the selectors before the announcement of the NSW IRB interstate team to travel to Thirroul next month.
The following clubs will be competing in Round 4 of the 2018 NSW Sharkskin IRB Premiership Series:
Avalon Beach SLSC, Catherine Hill Bay SLSC, Caves Beach SLSC, Coogee SLSC, Cooks Hill SLSC, Forster SLSC, Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC, Kiama Downs SLSC, Maroubra SLSC, Newcastle SLSC, Newport SLSC, Nobbys SLSC, North Avoca SLSC, North Cronulla SLSC, Ocean Beach SLSC, Queenscliff SLSC, Soldiers Beach SLSC, South Maroubra SLSC, Stockton SLSC, Terrigal SLSC, Thirroul SLSC, Umina SLSC, Woonona SLSC
Racing at Caves Beach is scheduled to start at 8am on Saturday, June 16.
