Kiama Downs Go Back-To-Back
Round two of the 2019 Sharkskin NSW IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) Premiership Series was held at The Lakes SLSC on the Central Coast on 18 – 19 May.
“The Lakes SLSC supported a fantastic event on the weekend and we thank them for hosting round two of this series,” said SLSNSW Surf Sports Manager Rob Pigeon. “Conditions were challenging with one-metre shore-dump but the drivers and crew raced at an exceptionally high level taking into account safety, technique and professionalism.”
While the strong south swell delivered waves to the south-facing beaches, The Lakes was protected which gave the 23 teams the opportunity to lift their speed game after negotiating the shorebreak.
Kiama Downs SLSC once again brought their a-game. The South Coast team has now taken out two-from-two events.
Kiama Downs’s team manager Stephen Strong has been racing IRBs with his club since 1983, the year he completed his Bronze Medallion. He says his team is beyond stoked with the back-to-back wins. “To win the second round is just great we’re all buzzing.
“We had six additional members competing this weekend which allowed us to field teams in the women’s and Under 23s divisions.
“Everyone stood up and our team’s racing was floorless,” said Stephen. “Every race was a hard race and very tight. You only have to watch the finals to see how tight it was. There would be six teams across the beach right on the line. Some of the Open Men’s races and the Under 23s, their level of racing is really incredible to watch. The speed, skill and accuracy of the races this season is great.”
The Open Mixed Relay is the big teams event, equivalent to the Taplin Relay in the main sports events. On top of their overall poinscore win, the Kiama Downs team were thrilled to take out the premier race.
Ahead of the third round coming up at Cape Hawke on 1-2 June, the leading team will review their shortfalls to ensure they stay on top. “We want to stay strong,” says Stephen. “After each round, you’ve got to sit down with the team and break down each race before getting back into the water and refining each movement.”
The 2019 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership heads to Cape Hawke SLSC on the Lower North Coast for Round Three on 1-2 June.
Kiama Downs SLSC
Race formats in the 2019 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Series include;
- IRB Rescue
- IRB Mass Rescue
- IRB Teams Rescue
- IRB Rescue Tube
- IRB Relay
At the end of the four-event rounds, the club with the top points will be awarded the title of NSW Premiers.
*2 November 2019 also marks the 50th anniversary since IRBs were introduced to Surf Life Saving.
Round 2 Pointscore
- Kiama Downs
- Caves Beach
- Terrigal
- North Cronulla
- Thirroul
- Newport
- Newcastle
- South Maroubra & Woonona
- Nobbys
- Queenscliff
- Umina
- Bondi
- North Avoca
- Coogee
- Helensburgh Stanwell Park
- Maroubra & Avalon Beach
- Bungan Beach & Ocean Beach
Race Results Round 2
- 35+ Years Mixed Rescue Tube: 1 Caves Beach, 2 Bondi, 3 Kiama Downs
- Open Male Rescue Tube: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Caves Beach, 3 Terrigal
- Open Female Rescue Tube: 1 Caves Beach, 2 North Cronulla, 3 Caves Beach
- 45+ Years Mixed Rescue Tube: 1 Newcastle, 2 Caves Beach, 3 Newport
- U23 Mixed Rescue Tube: 1 Newport, 2 Thirroul, 3 Umina
- Open Mixed Relay: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 North Cronulla, 3 Terrigal
- Rookie Mass Rescue: 1 Coogee, 2 Woonona, 3 Umina
- U23 Mixed Mass Rescue: 1 North Cronulla, 2 Thirroul, 3 Woonona
- 45+ Years Mixed IRB Mass Rescue: 1 Terrigal, 2 Terrigal, 3 Caves Beach
- Open Female Mass Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Terrigal, 3 North Cronulla
- Open Male Mass Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs Red, 2 Kiama Downs Black, 3 Kiama Downs Gold
- 35+ Years Mixed Mass Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Caves Beach, 3 Queenscliff
- 35+ Years Mixed Teams Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Caves Beach Maroon, 3 Caves Beach White
- Open Female Teams Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Nobbys, 3 Caves Beach
- Open Male Teams Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs Red, 2 North Cronulla, 3 Kiama Downs Gold
- 45+ Years Mixed Teams Rescue: 1 Terrigal, 2 North Avoca
- U23 Mixed Teams Rescue: 1 South Marouba, 2 Kiama Downs, 3 Queenscliff
- U23 Mixed Surf Race: 1 Thirroul, 2 North Cronulla, 3 Kiama Downs
- Rookie Surf Rescue: 1 North Avoca, 2 Coogee, 3 Woonona
- 45+ Years Surf Rescue: 1 Newcastle, 2 Terrigal Real Thing, 3 Terrigal Gunas
- 35+ Years Mixed Surf Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Caves Beach, 3 Avalon Beach
- Open Male Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs Red, 2 North Cronulla, 3 Kiama Downs Gold
- Open Female Surf Rescue: 1 Kiama Downs, 2 Terrigal, 3 North Cronulla
Accumulated Pointscore After Round 2
2019 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Rounds
- Round 1: 4-5 May 2019 Stockton SLSC
- Round 2: 18-19 May 2019 The Lakes SLSC
- Round 3: 1-2 June 2019 Cape Hawke SLSC NSW
- Round 4: 15-16 June 2019 Caves Beach SLSC
NSW IRB Championships: 29-30 June 2019 Cape Hawke SLSC
Bungan Beach SLSC - GoPro Screenshot
Bungan Beach SLSC - GoPro Screenshot
Report by Surf Life Saving NSW, Photos by Richard Black, Bungan SLSC GoPro screen captures by Sally Macintosh.
