Queensland has once again finished second at the Australian Interstate Championships, putting in strong performance across all age groups at Sydney’s Maroubra Beach.

The host state proved just too strong, with the Blues collecting 30 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze medals across the youth pathways and open competitions, finishing 50 points ahead of Queensland and 80 points ahead of third-placed Victoria.

Queensland medal tally included nine gold, 21 silver and nine bronze medals. The rising stars for Queensland really shone, including Dylan Wilson who took home gold in the Youth Ironman and silver in the Youth Surf Swim.

Following the Ironman, Wilson said he was just to hold his lead to the shore to finish off the race.

“I was just trying to hold off for the board cause they were right behind me,” he said. “I could hear the wash but I thought they were two or three metres behind me… I was scared when I looked back.

“I was just trying to put my head down and work as hard as I can, praying for a wave. I’m really happy to come in first.”

Gold Coast’s Kirstie Hardstaff delivered a gold medal in the Open Female Board Race for the Maroons.

“I just tried to have a good start and get on my knees quite quickly and then as long as I got the inside of the can I thought I was going to be alright,” she said. “Coming in was good fun, not much help [from the surf].

“I just had my head down trying to catch the runners and then when I put it up I had no idea where I was coming in so I just had to readjust and then lucky I got a little wave at the end.”

Her fellow Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park teammate, Grace Otto, received a phone call last night that would change how she approached her racing at today’s Australian Interstate Championships in Sydney.

Surf Life Saving Australia officials called her on the eve of the competition to let her know she had been offered a spot in this weekend’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series to replace Lucy Derbyshire, who is ruled out due illness.

The 19-year-old competed in the Series last season, after winning the Next Gen Series that qualified her a spot.

After narrowly missing the 2023/24 season after finishing 13th in the trial, Otto is thrilled to be given the call up.

“I found out yesterday that I’d be racing on the weekend at the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series which is really exciting,” said Otto. “I got to go around last year with the girls and to go around again this weekend will be super awesome,” she said.

The rising star is enjoying her time with the Queensland Cyclones in the senior ranks, and said she’ll use today’s competition as a good hit out before round three of the Nutri-Grain on Saturday.

“It’s really good to have a hit out at Maroubra,” she said. “It’s different conditions compared to back at home [Gold Coast], so good to be able to test out the conditions.

“It’s great to be in the Queensland Cyclones team, we’ve got a good team around us. I was last in it when I was under 14s and coming up now and racing again with a whole new team, it’s really exciting.

“Tricky conditions today at Maroubra with the shorey, but other than that it’s really good,” she said.

Overall point score: 1. New South Wales (254);  2. Queensland (202); 3. Victoria (172); 4. Western Australia (158); 5. South Australia (132); 6. Tasmania (81)

Open point score: 1. New South Wales (88); 2. Victoria (69); 3. Queensland (67); 4. South Australia (50); 5. Western Australia (50); 6. Tasmania (30)

Youth point score: 1. New South Wales (91);  2. Queensland (71); 3. Victoria (60); 4. Western Australia (57); 5. South Australia (40); 6. Tasmania (34)

Pathways point score: 1. New South Wales (75); 2. Queensland (64); 3. Western Australia (51); 4. Victoria (43); 5. South Australia (39); 6. Tasmania (17).