Pittwater Online News

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.

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.

Lucas Phillips – Freshwater SLSC

Allen Lakemen – Dee Why SLSC

Christopher Cooper – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC

Allen Lakeman - Dee Why SLSC

Phoebe Savage – Newport SLSC

Clare Freakley – Freshwater SLSC

Tahlia Dearden – Freshwater SLSC

Open Female Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Christopher Currlli – Manly LSC

James Wacher – Manly LSC

James Rice – Bronte SLSC

U19 Male Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Mollie Murphy – Umina SLSC

Grace Owen – Queenscliff SLSC

Georgina Ryan – Bronte SLSC

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 Male Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Kirsten Miller – Umina SLSC

Victoria Cuthbert – Manly LSC

Emily Thornton – Queenscliff SLSC

U17 Female Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Luca White – Manly LSC

Keaton Pollington – Terrigal SLSC

Tom Rodham – Umina SLSC

U15 Male Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Sarah Murdoch – Manly LSC

Tamsyn Gould – Terrigal SLSC

Alexandra Davison – Coogee SLSC

U15 Female Champion Lifesaver Medal Winners

Ian Manley – Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC

Melanie Thomas – Manly LSC

Kristy McIntyre – Bondi Surf Bathers LSC

Emma Larssen – Cronulla SLSC

Melanie Thomas - Manly LSC

Guyren Smith – Newport SLSC

Mark Fabik – Bondi Surf Bathers SLSC

Timothy Cuthbert – Manly LSC

Guyren Smith - Newport SLSC

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.

The first weekend of 2018 NSW Lifesaving Championships continued last Sunday with medals decided in the traditional Patrol Competition.

The Patrol Competition is highly technical sport designed to challenge the competitor’s lifesaving knowledge.

Freshwater continued on their winning ways taking out gold in the Open Division for a second straight year finishing ahead of Bronte and Newport who rounded out the podium.

In the U17s Bondi Surf Bathers held off a fast-finishing Jan Juc SLSC to claim the NSW title ahead of the visiting Victorians.

Surf Life Saving NSW Sports Coordinator Luke Stigter was delighted with a successful start to the NSW Championships after the Champion Lifesaver and Patrol Competition kicked off a busy period at Blacksmiths Beach.

“It’s an exciting time of year with the State Championships always a highlight on the calendar for all our competitors no matter what even they’re contesting.

“The Champion Lifesaver and Patrol Competition certainly got the event off to the best possible start setting a high standard with the competitors all demonstrating their sound knowledge of lifesaving, skills and teamwork throughout the weekend,” Mr Stigter said.

In the Patrol Competition, the competitors represent their clubs and must demonstrate their knowledge of how a patrol can function efficiently and in a professional manner.

It’s open to competitors aged 17 and above and consists of 4 members in the U17 category and 6 in the open age group with the addition of IRB drivers.

Only the first two placed teams earn the right to enter April’s Australian Championships so there’s a lot at stake for the lifesavers involved.

The competition begins with an exam to test the knowledge before moving onto scenarios, and team races. To be successful the teams must work together and demonstrate leadership and good practice with judges keeping an eagle eye on the participants to ensure they meet the criteria.

Freshwater Team A SLSC

Bronte SLSC

Newport Team A SLSC

Bondi Surf Bathers LSC

Jan Juc SLSC (Victoria)