CUDGEN Headland Surf Life Saving Club and fellow powerhouse Byron Bay SLSC are locked in a battle for 2016 Far North Coast Branch Surf Sports Club of the Year.

The two clubs have been going head to head, leaving other clubs in their wake as they dominate surf lifesaving competitions.

Cudgen SLSC president Adam Mills said the club thrived on the challenge.

“We’ve got a great relationship with Byron and our two clubs make up the majority of members,” Mills said.

“This battle that has popped up over the last few weeks is great and there’s still one contest to go.”

Cudgen took the title from Byron last year, for the first time since 2006, but Byron hit back this season, with the battle swinging back and forth since.

Cudgen tipped the scales when they recently took the honours at the Junior Branch Championships, but Byron returned serve by winning the overall point score at the Senior Branch Championships at Brunswick Heads.

The battle culminated at the Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships, where Byron claimed their sixth straight NSW Country

title by just seven points in an agonising result for Cudgen.

Byron’s win was the smallest margin in competition history.

Cudgen’s young guns have been firing and club coach Scott McCartney said he could not be prouder of recent results.

“Our 17s and 19s have

had a huge schedule over the last few weeks, where they’ve backed up to ensure we pick up as many points as possible,” McCartney said.

Mills said the club had displayed a real sense of camaraderie, which was a testament to their dedication.

The club is preparing for the NSW State Champion- ships on March 4, for another shot at Byron.