January 27 - February 2, 2013: Issue 95
Surf Life Saving Interstate Championships Newport 22 Jan 2013
NSW has won the Alan B Whelpton Perpetual Shield in the Interstate SLS Championships held this week. Teams from every state competed in the Interstate Championships in Sydney at the Sydney Olympic Pool at Homebush on 21st of January and then at Newport in beach and ocean events on Tuesday 22nd January for the Pool Rescue Trophy, Ocean Rescue Trophy and the combined scores Alan B Whelpton AO Perpetual Shield. NSW won in the pool, on the beach and in the ocean by a narrow margin from Queensland while Victoria topscored in the Handicap Pointscore Trophy.
The Newport Surf Life Saving Club played host to the 2013 Surf Life Saving Interstate Championships. Lifesavers from around Australia met in Newport with teams from each state and the Northern Territory participating in the beach and ocean competition. The Interstate Championships provides an opportunity for Australia's finest surf lifesavers to represent their state in elite lifesaving sports competition. Competition is fierce as each state fights to be crowned the dominant force in lifesaving sports. Newport turned on beautiful Northern Beaches weather which was enjoyed by competitors and spectators.
Former Warriewood SLSC member Jayke Rees, now with Newport SLSC won the under 17 Men’s Surf Race. Jayke, whose grandmother Janet Hogan was a 1960 Olympian in swimming, also recently won gold at the Australian Youth Olympics as part of the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay team. Team captain Naomi Flood placed 1st in the Open Women’s Surf Race, Open Women's Ski Race, Open Women's 50m with Fins and the Open Ironwoman event. SLS NSW Athlete of the year (2012), Max Brooks, also of Newport SLSC, won the U19 Men's Ski Race and the U19 Men's Board Race. NSW won finishing with a total of 1059.50 points from Queensland 1017.00 and Victoria 643.50
Alan Whelpton AO is the former World President of International Life Saving, immediate past President of Surf Life Saving Australia (1975-2001), previous President of the Asia/Pacific Region of International Life Saving, Chairman of International Life Saving Sports Commission, Chairman of the SLSA Westpac Helicopters Pty Ltd and Past Chairman of the Carbine Club of NSW. He is currently Chairman of The Western Sydney Academy of Sport.
Mr Whelpton joined MacMaster’s Beach SLSC on the Central Coast in 1953. Under his stewardship Surf Life Saving introduced female members, Female competition, Masters competition, Iron Man competition, Inflatable Rescue Boats and the National Surf Life Saving Championships which attract the largest number of competitors of any sport in Australia. He introduced World Championships (1981) and was the first Secretary General of International Life Saving, founded in 1971.
Mr Whelpton was honoured by both Surf Life Saving Australia and The International Life Saving Federation by the creation of the position of “Life Governor”. In 1982 he received an AM in Australia’s Honours List and in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours was elevated to AO “Officer of the Order of Australia”. In 1996 he was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame and is today a selector for that National organisation.
Most teams see this event as great preparation for the 2013 Australian Championships which will be held in April at North Kirra and Tugun, QLD.
A Full list of results is available at: sls.com.au/interstates
Cr Jacqui Townsend, Mayor of Pittwater, and Cr Kylie Ferguson with team members from Queensland
Cr Jacqqui Townsend (Mayor of Pittwater), Rob Emerson (Newport SLSC), and Nick Carroll (Surfing legend)
Report and Photographs by Michael Mannington, 2013.