Umina nipper wins NSW gold

Umina Surf Life Saving Club nipper Lachlan Braddish has won gold at the Junior State Surf Life Saving Championships at Kingscliff held from March 2 to 4.

Lachlan, 10, was crowned the Under-10 Surf Race Champion of NSW and won the event in difficult conditions, improving on his silver medal last year.

He also helped his surf team win a bronze medal.

"It's been many years since a boy from the Umina Surf club has won a surf race at the State titles," said Lachlan's father, Richard Braddish.

Lachlan said he contributes his success to the swim coaches at Woy Woy pool and the trainers at Umina Surf Life Saving Club.

He started off the season with the 10 years Endurance Ironman at Forster which he won, second in the Kracka Ironman, first in the Gardner Ironman, second in the Australia Day Ironman and first in all three of the Newcastle Permanent Ironman Series.

He also won the Under-10 Cole Classic swim in record time.

Lachlan said his hero was Ironman Caine Eckstein and he hoped to be a champion like him in the future.

He said he was looking forward to next year's State Championships at his home beach at Umina.

Email, 14 Mar 2012 Richard Braddish, Umina Photo: Richard Braddish