The 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships ended on a high-note in the First Aid competition last weekend with Freshwater SLSC enjoying plenty of success.

The First Aid Competition tests the participant’s knowledge and skills of a variety of situations. To score top points they need to be able to assess the condition of a patient and treat them in accordance with standard procedures.



Each team consists of two persons, and only the first three teams earned the right to compete at next month’s Aussies.



The team of Cheryl White and Kelly Dobrow (Freshwater SLSC) took out the Open Competition for the second straight year finishing just ahead of Manly and Queenscliff.



In the U19s it was an all Freshwater final with Emma Smith and Emma Schooley combining to take the win over Tahlia Dearden and Julia Baker.



Competing in their first ever First Aid competition it was the team from Umina who impressed the judges most in the U15s with Lily Perry and Grace Talty doing enough to secure the gold medal ahead of Manly who claimed the two minor placings.



Championship Referee Barry Antella OAM said the 2017 Surf Life Championships at Blacksmiths Beach was a success.



“It’s been a really successful competition and great to see the new teams come along after performing strongly at the Branch Championships,” Barry Antella said.


“What was positive as well was seeing a lot of our competitors in the Open Division officiating the younger ones. This is really useful as they have a good knowledge of the competition and the skills and techniques needed to be successful in the First Aid Championships.”

In a first for Lifesaving, a new system of marking was incorporated in 2017 for the theory paper with the aim of speeding up what is traditionally a very labour intensive process.



“The new system of marking papers was well received by the officials as it saved them a lot of time. I think everyone enjoyed the Life Saving Championships overall and we’re quietly confident that all of our competitors heading to Aussies will put in a good performance,” Mr Antella said.