The first medals for the 2018 NSW Championships have been decided after a compelling day of action at Swansea’s iconic Blacksmiths Beach.
For the second straight year the traditional Champion Lifesaver event was given top billing on the Saturday as the Championship season got underway.
Points weren’t the only things on the line for the lifesavers with only the first two finishers earning a starting position at next month’s Australian Titles.
The Champion Lifesaver event is for individuals (both male and female) in the U15, 17, 19, Open, 30-39 and 40+ Age groups.
It consists of three parts; a multiple choice exam, CPR scenarios, and a skills competition in a Beach Sprint, Surf Race, Board Race, and Tube Race.
To be crowned champion, a lifesaver must perform at a highly competent level throughout the entirety of the event with the competitor’s skills judged at every turn.
It was a solid start to the competition for Manly with the northern beaches powerhouse earning gold medals courtesy of strong performances from Christopher Currlli (U19), Luca White (U15), Sarah Murdoch (U15), and Melanie Thomas (30-39).
Other clubs who enjoyed success included Freshwater with Lucas Phillips taking out the Open Male event, and the club winning 4 of the six medals on offer in the division.
Umina won three gold medals with Mollie Murphy, Kirsten Miller, and Christine Bishop all standing on top of the podium, while Phoebe Savage and Guyren Smith (Newport), William Davison (Coogee), and Ian Manley (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park) also recorded wins.
2018 Champion Lifesaver Event – Medallists
Open Male
Lucas Phillips – Freshwater SLSC
Allen Lakemen – Dee Why SLSC
Christopher Cooper – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Open Female
Phoebe Savage – Newport SLSC
Clare Freakley – Freshwater SLSC
Tahlia Dearden – Freshwater SLSC
U19 Male
Christopher Currlli – Manly LSC
James Wacher – Manly LSC
James Rice – Bronte SLSC
U19 Female
Mollie Murphy – Umina SLSC
Grace Owen – Queenscliff SLSC
Georgina Ryan – Bronte SLSC
U17 Male
William Davison – Coogee SLSC
Joe Jenkins – North Steyne SLSC
Finn Drips – Jan Juc (Victoria) *
Ewan Cooper-Frater – North Steyne SLSC
Two bronze medals were awarded in this division under competition rules after third place was claimed by an interstate competitor.
U17 Female
Kirsten Miller – Umina SLSC
Victoria Cuthbert – Manly LSC
Emily Thornton – Queenscliff SLSC
U15 Male
Luca White – Manly LSC
Keaton Pollington – Terrigal SLSC
Tom Rodham – Umina SLSC
U15 Female
Sarah Murdoch – Manly LSC
Tamsyn Gould – Terrigal SLSC
Alexandra Davison – Coogee SLSC
30-39 Male
Ian Manley – Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC
30-39 Female
Melanie Thomas – Manly LSC
Kristy McIntyre – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC
Emma Larssen – Cronulla SLSC
40+ Male
Guyren Smith – Newport SLSC
Mark Fabik – Bondi Surf Bathers SLSC
Timothy Cuthbert – Manly LSC
40+ Female
Christine Bishop – Umina SLSC
Janet Proudfoot – Newport SLSC
Deborah Foote – North Steyne SLSC
The 2018 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships proudly supported by your Local Club will continue at Blacksmiths Beach, Swansea on Friday 2 March when competition in the Age Championships gets underway
Tuesday 27 February 2018