SPONSORSHIP by Yarads proved to be a major coup for the Lower North Coast and Mid North Coast Surf Branches at the start of the 1979/80 season.
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The Taree firm sponsored a branch challenge, with the first carnival held at Old Bar in December 1979.
This proved to be the biggest carnival held in the LNC branch - other than a Country Championship - for more than a decade. However, the numerically stronger Mid North Coast Branch proved far too good for the LNC clubs. There were only four clubs in the Lower North Coast at that time.
There was a splash of glamour, with a beach girl contest held in conjunction with the carnival - in those days women weren't permitted to be full members of surf clubs and so couldn't compete in carnivals.
Mid North Coast clubs maintained their domination of the Yarads Shield for many seasons, before the Lower North Coast, aided by the emergence of the Corbett family from the Taree Old Bar club, scored the branch's first victory.
