Lifesavers showcased their emergency response capabilities across a number of scenarios at the regional championships over the past three weekends.
Competitors aged from Under 14’s through to Opens were tested on their lifesaving skills and knowledge, working in teams to respond to simulated emergencies involving live patients and manikins.
Surf Club members across the coast compete in three lifesaving events as part of the Branch Championships: First Aid, Champion Lifesaver and Patrol Competition
With the competitions being spread across multiple locations and Covid safe modifications making treating the injured a mixture of simulated live patients and manikins, lifesavers had their work cut out for them.
Umina SLSC led the way in results, taking out the gold in the Opens, U19’s and U17’s First Aid events, with Soldiers Beach SLSC taking the win in the U15’s.
The patrol competition was also won by Umina’s U17’s team at Killcare last Sunday.
In the premier event, Champion Lifesaver, it was Mollie Murphy from Umina who took out the Opens female title with Amber Henderson from The Lakes a close second.
Umina dominated in the U17’s and U14’s, with competitors from Soldiers, Terrigal and Ocean Beach also taking home medals across the younger age groups.
In the masters, Terrigal men took out both the 40+ and 50+ age groups whilst it was Christine Bishop from Umina who took out the female masters event, leading the entire competition with the highest score across all the age groups.
“It’s great to see our young lifesavers honing their skills in these more traditional lifesaving competitions” said SLSCC’s Director of Surf Sports, David Unger. “They then take this knowledge onto patrols and into the wider community, with many of these competitors having already had to use their skills in real life situations.”
The competitors now go onto the State Titles at Swansea Belmont, competing against the best in NSW to try and qualify for the national championships at The Aussies.