Sport
20 August, 2026
Stalwarts win surf ski race
CAIRNS Surf Life Saving Club stalwarts Tony Hannan and Nigel Harris have won the signature event at the second beach carnival of the 2026 North Queensland Life Saving surf sports season at Four Mile Beach.
Almost 200 athletes from surf life saving clubs from Noosa in the south, to Port Douglas in the north, hit the beach and water in idyllic conditions.
From five-years-old to 80, athletes came together in an atmosphere of fun, sportsmanship and vying for bragging rights.
The signature event of the carnival was the Steve Pollard masters mixed double ski event.
The hotly-contested race involves athletes competing in honour of former Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club president, life member and competitor Steve Pollard, who was a regular training in his ski on his beloved Four Mile Beach.
The close finish resulted in Nigel Harris and Tony Hannan from Cairns SLSC taking victory.
Hannan, Cairns SLSC president, said it was “an honour to win such a coveted title” as they were handed the shield from defending title holder, life member and club captain of Port Douglas SLSC John Goodman.
Of the event, masters athlete Greg Bott of Noosa SLSC said “it is fantastic to be up here competing in an event in the north and being made to feel so welcome”.
“We are absolutely loving it,” he said.
Cairns SLSC took out the overall club point score with Ellis Beach and Port Douglas in a close finish for second after a strong showing by the host club.
The next event on the surf sports calendar will be hosted at Etty Bay 29-30 August.
