Nearly 250 athletes from 25 surf life saving clubs across the state will tussle for top honours at the NSW Pool Rescue Championships at Woy Woy Peninsula Leisure Centre on the Central Coast this weekend.
Making its return to the Surf Life Saving NSW surf sports calendar after a two-year COVID-19-forced hiatus, and still one of the organisation’s newest events, the Pool Rescue Championships offers a platform for the state’s best surf swimmers to test their technical skills in a unique setting.
Events are based around speed and the ability to use that speed in a rescue, with obstacles and weighted items in place of real-life patients.
The 200m Super Lifesaver will feature as a premier event of the weekend, consisting of a 75m freestyle swim to recover a submerged manikin, followed by a 50m freestyle to secure a manikin with a rescue tube towed to the finish line. It will close out the Open competition on Sunday afternoon.
There will also be plenty of action when the Youth category hits the water on Friday and Saturday, with the laughter and excitement of our future lifesavers from U11s to U15s sure to echo through the centre.
“It’s a sentence I find I’m saying a lot this year but it’s the truth, it’s just great to be back competing in regular surf sports events,” Surf Life Saving NSW Director of Surf Sports, Don van Keimpema said.
“The Pool Rescue Championships is a really unique event – it’s not like anything else on our calendar and it allows athletes and competitors to really focus on the skills required to save a life.
“It’s not necessarily about being the fastest swimmer or the most athletic competitor, I think that’s what makes it such an interesting event.”
The Doyle and Maggs families lead a strong Newport SLSC contingent, with Emily, Katelynn, Kimberley and Anthony (Doyle) joining Noah and Sadie (Maggs) in the pool. Meanwhile, North Curl Curl’s Zara Kasprowicz and Dominique Melbourn will be looking to follow up impressive State Championships showings with podium finishes.
Reigning NSW Junior Lifesaver of the Year Briella Gyler-Dial heads up the Hunter contingent looking to travel down the coast and secure a slew of medals. The Caves Beach SLSC member will be supported by Cooks Hill brothers Charlie and Alex Walker and a stacked Redhead SLSC team.
Local hopes include big squads from Shelly Beach, Terrigal and Umina – a traditionally strong pool rescue club – while Warilla Barrack Point and Broulee Surfers in the south won’t be making the trip just to make up the numbers.
“We’re really pleased with the turnout we are expecting in Woy Woy at the weekend,” Don continued.
“I don’t know what I’m looking forward to more – seeing the state’s best lifesavers hitting the water on Sunday in the leadup to the Super Lifesaver or watching the future of the sport on Friday and Saturday when the Youth events are on.
“It’s so important in the off-season to be keeping active and working on our skills. The Pool Rescue Championships provides an excellent platform for volunteers to practice their skills in a competitive environment that we find brings out the best in everyone.”
NSW Pool Rescue coaches will also have a watchful eye on the athletes this weekend ahead of naming the NSW Team.
The 2022 NSW Pool Rescue Championships will take place from 22-24 July at Woy Woy Peninsula Leisure Centre (243 Blackwall Rd Woy Woy).
EVENTS
Line Throw – 12.5 metres
Line Throw 10 metres
200m Obstacle Race
100m Obstacle Race
50m Obstacle Race
4x50m Obstacle Relay
50m Manikin Carry
50m Brick Carry
4x25m Brick Relay
4x25m Manikin Relay
100m Manikin Tow with Fins
100m Manikin Carry with Fins
100m Rescue Medley
4x50m Medley Relay
50m Freestyle with Fins
200m Super Lifesaver
COMPETING CLUBS
Avoca Beach SLSC
Bondi SBLSC
Broulee Surfers SLSC
Bulli SLSC
Caves Beach SLSC
Cooks Hill SLSC
Currumbin Beach Vikings
Engadine Royal LSC
Newport SLSC
North Cronulla SLSC
North Curl Curl SLSC
North Wollongong SLSC
Ocean Beach SLSC
Queenscliff SLSC
Redhead SLSC
Shellharbour SLSC
Shelly Beach SLSC
South Curl Curl SLSC
South Maroubra SLSC
Swansea Belmont SLSC
Terrigal SLSC
Towradgi SLSC
Umina SLSC
Wanda SLSC
Warilla Barrack Point SLSC
Full event info here.
Wednesday 20 July 2022