Sum Won Wang, the first-year Broulee under 19s crew of Robbie Hogg, Sam Bailey, Justin Louttit, Keiran O’Fee and sweep Robert Pollock, was narrowly pipped on the line by Avoca with South Australia’s Henley in third.

A big swell on the weekend forced the organisers to move the event to Warilla from Shellharbour. 

The crew had not trained as a group for three weeks but came so close to a major result by nabbing silver.

Pollock said it was a great effort by his youngest crew to perform as well as they did.

“Most spectators on the beach were convinced the fast finishing Broulee crew got up but Avoca were given the nod,” Pollock said.

“It was a great effort to get to the final with the crew having to complete the course before the semi-final without a sweep oar.” 

Pollock said the under 19s crew would not set themselves for the NSW and Australian titles. 

“The boys are a new crew and have so much more improvement and will only get better,” he said.

Organisers feared the surf was going to pick up and raced the under 19s and under 23s women’s event through the late evening on Saturday with races only 30 minutes apart.

Sum Ting Wong, under 23s women’s crew of Alisha Meek, Claudia Ferguson, Kate Chesher, Taylah Connaughton and sweep Robert Pollock, narrowly missed a finals berth after the boat finished fourth in the semi-final.

Earlier in the day the women’s crew looked impressive with two great wins.

The close turn around did not favour the crew which have struggled, like the under 19s, to train as a group. 

“The girls have some great results this year and could achieve much greater results in the future,” Pollock said.

Dim Sim, the under 23s men’s crew of Jack Dunn, Ewen Pollock, Hayden Connor, Jeffrey Gamble and sweep Robert Pollock, were unlucky and missed the cut after the heats.

There were no finish flags in the heats and the crew was judged to be third in two close races.

In the third heat the starter sent the crew out in a “massive” set of waves.

Dim Sims was leading and went over five waves but then the boat’s water pumps failed.

The boat filled with water which slowed Broulee down and the men’s crew missed the cut by two points.

“The crew is determined to be a force at the two major carnivals remaining and with any luck should be a real threat,” Pollock said.

On Sunday, Broulee’s reserve crew, Who Wang, surprised all by getting to the final 16 of 65 crews. 

Like the under 23s, the crew of Roy Booker, Rolly Halligan, Ryan Pollock, Hugo Dutiot and sweep Rob Pollock were hit by a fierce wave set in its elimination final.

The boat smashed through six large waves which pushed it back from the lead.

The crew battled on with a boat-load of water and missed out on a semi-final berth by a single point. 

“The crew has improved so much this year and are more than happy with their results,” Pollock said.

Pollock praised Gus McDonald for his support of the reserve and under 19s crews.

“It was a fantastic club effort with all four crews being a real force on the national stage,” he said.