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News and special events related to RLSSport Pool Lifesaving.
Upcoming Events
9 - 16 April 2012 - Philippine Lifesaving Tour - Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival, Philippines
28 - 29 April 2012 - RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet - Runaway Bay, QLD
7 - 9 July 2012 - National High Performance Training Camp - Alice Springs, NT
8 July 2012 - Australian Pool Life Saving Short Course Championships - Alice Springs, NT
LATEST NEWS
28 - 29 April 2012 - RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet - Runaway Bay, QLD
The RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet will be held at the Sports Super Centre, Runaway Bay with five events conducted on Saturday 28 April and five events on Sunday 29 April. The event will also combine the QLD State Lifesaving Championships.
The National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet is a National competition open to all RLSSA members with a current Bronze Medallion (for all open events) or Bronze Star and lifesavers with equivalent lifesaving awards from other Lifesaving organisations. Events will be run in the following age groups:
Under 16
Under 19
Open - In the open age group onlyeachskin has prize money of $100.
The entry fees for the National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet are as follows:
$30 - RLSSA Members
$60 - Non-RLSSA Members
A limited amount of on-site accommodation in quad-share rooms will be available. If you are interested in booking accommodation onsite please contact Emma MacMillan on emacmillan@rlssa.org.au for further information and room rates. Accommodation will be booked on a first come, first serve basis so send through your accommodation enquiries today!
For further information please contact Emma MacMillan on emacmillan@rlssa.org.au or 02 8217 3127.
We are also looking for Officials to assist at the RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet 2012. If you would like to officiate at the Skins Meet please submit your your name, contact number and Officials qualifications to emacmillan@rlssa.org.au by Friday 6 April 2012.
To enter the RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet 2012 please complete the form below and return to emacmillan@rlssa.org.au or fax - (02) 8217 3199 by Friday 6 April 2012.
RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving Skins Meet 2012 Entry Form (49KB)
13th Australian Masters Games - Pool Lifesaving - Monday 10 October 2011
31 athletes and a number of RLSSA Pool Lifesaving Officials attended the 13th Australian Masters Games Pool Lifesaving competition held on Monday 10 October 2011 at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Oaklands Park, SA.
There were a number of fantastic swims and many competitors swam personal best times on the day.
Congratulations must go to the three new National Pool Lifesaving Masters record holders:
Karen Patrick (QLD) - Women's 35-39 100m Obstacles - New record time 1:16.03
Grant Simpson - Men's 55-59 100m Manikin Tow - New record time 1:16.96
Paul Lemmon (NSW) - Men's 40-44 100m Manikin Carry - New record time 1:03.25
Results -
13AMG Pool Lifesaving Results 2011 (65KB)
For further information on Masters Pool Lifesaving competition and how to join your local Pool Lifesaving club please contact Emma MacMillan - National Sport and Events Officer on emacmillan@rlssa.org.au
RLSSA top athletes take out the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships 2011
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia's top Pool Lifesaving athletes competed at the recent Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships 2011 held in Durban South Africa. Two teams competed in the National competition (the Aussie Barras) and the Development competition (the RLSSA Development Team) and clinched the double Championship - fending off tough competition from South Africa and England. 2011 is the first time that RLSSA has won both competitions at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships.
The Aussie Barras (left) and the RLSSA Development Team (right) winners - Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships 2011
The team of seasoned international athletes and exciting young rookies embraced the opportunity to race on the world stage and stake their claim as the next generation of champion Pool Lifesavers representing RLSSA at the Championships. by securing six RLSSA National Pool Lifesaving records and five Commonwealth Lifesaving Championship records. Standout performances included Alisha Ellwood and Tim Schofield breaking the Womens and Mens 200m Obstacle Swim Commonwealth Championships records respectively, Pamela Hendry breaking the Womens 100m Manikin Tow with fins Championship record, the Aussie Barras Mens 4 x 25m Manikin Carry relay taking two seconds off the previous record set in Edmonton 2009 and the Aussie Barras Womens 4 x 50m Medley relay setting a new Championship record. The RLSSA Development Team also showcased a wealth of up-and-coming athletes with a number of outstanding indivudual and team performances.
RLSSA Pool Lifesaving officials including Roz Grey (Chief Referee), Anni Gardiner (SERC Co-ordinator), Barbara Morgan, Jim Morgan, Sing Ma, Frances Evans and Jo Teagle represented Australia proudly at the Championships and assisted Lifesaving South Africa in conducting a successful Championship.
Full RLSSA results are listed below for the National teams competition and the Development teams competition.
National Team Results - Men
Gold
Tim Schofield - Mens 200m Obstacle Swim 1:57.17 (Commonwealth Championships Record)
Sam Bell - Mens 200m Superlifesaver 2:17.35
Mens 4 x 25m Manikin Carry Relay 1:14.75
Silver
Sam Bell - Mens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:01.28
Mens 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay 1:43.04
Mitchell Parkes (Thrower) / Andrew Bowden (Patient) - Mens 12m Line Throw 10.22
Mitchell Parkes - Mens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 52.60
Tim Schofield - Mens 200m Superlifesaver 2:21.99
Mens 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:35.15
Bronze
Andrew Bowden - Mens 50m Manikin Carry 31.56
4th
Blake McCrindle - Mens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 54.79
Tim Schofield - Mens 50m Manikin Carry 32.86
Mitchell Parkes - Mens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 59.28
5th
Blake McCrindle (Thrower) / Tim Schofield (Patient) - Mens 12m Line Throw 11.61
8th
Sam Bell - Mens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:08.55
National Team Results - Women
Gold
Alisha Ellwood - Womens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:13.45 (Commonwealth Championships Record)
Womens 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay 1:57.99
Pamela Hendry - Womens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 1:01.14
Felysia Konakoff - Womens 200m Superlifesaver 2:35.83
Womens 4 x 25m Manikin Carry Relay 1:31.01
Womens 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:47.66
Silver
Felysia Konakoff - Womens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 1:01.99
Pamela Hendry - Womens 50m Manikin Carry 37.16
Bronze
Felysia Konakoff (Thrower) / Jane Cooper (Patient) - Womens 12m Line Throw 13.74
Jane Cooper - Womens 50m Manikin Carry 37.96
4th
Felysia Konakoff - Womens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:18.22
Alicia Kirk - Womens 200m Superlifesaver 2:40.64
5th
Jane Cooper - Womens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:08.49
9th (B Final)
Pamela Hendry - Womens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:05.08
Development Team Results - Men
Gold
Mitchell Hartman - Mens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 56.21
Dane Farrell - Mens 200m Superlifesaver 2:24.71
Mens 4 x 25m Manikin Carry Relay 1:22.78
Dane Farrell - Mens 50m Manikin Carry 33.99
Mens 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:42.81
Silver
Dane Farrell - Mens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:04.18
Bronze
Mens 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay 1:51.70
Mitchell Hartman - Mens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:03.06
4th
Mitchell Hartman (Thrower) / Matthew Perriman (Patient) - Mens 12m Line Throw 14.52
Jed Boxall - Mens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 1:01.94
5th
Matthew Perriman - Mens 50m Manikin Carry 37.93
Jed Boxall - Mens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:04.25
6th
Jed Boxall - Mens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:14.11
Jed Boxall (Thrower) / Dane Farrell (Patient) - Mens 12m Line Throw 17.05
Matthew Perriman - Mens 200m Superlifesaver 2:48.49
Development Team Results - Women
Gold
Lisa Ferguson - Womens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 1:04.86
Caris Dempster - Womens 200m Superlifesaver 2:49.71
Womens 4 x 25m Manikin Carry Relay 1:42.51
Sarah Hamilton - Womens 50m Manikin Carry 40.20
Womens 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:53.58
Silver
Sarah Hamilton - Womens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:21.43
Womens 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay 2:07.87
Lisa Ferguson (Thrower) / Sarah Hamilton (Patient) - Womens 12m Line Throw 14.22
Bronze
Caris Dempster - Womens 200m Obstacle Swim 2:23.50
Siobhan Jones - Womens 200m Superlifesaver 2:53.66
4th
Felicity Harrison - Womens 100m Manikin Carry with Fins 1:11.84
Lisa Ferguson - Womens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:12.38
6th
Felicity Harrison - Womens 100m Manikin Tow with Fins 1:16.32
SERC Team Results
National Team SERC
Gold - Mitchell Parkes, Andrew Bowden, Blake McCrindle, Felysia Konakoff
Development Team SERC
Gold - Mitchell Hartman, Jed Boxall, Siobhan Jones, Lisa Ferguson
Full results from the 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships can be found at: http://www.rlsscommonwealth.org/2011CommonwealthLifesavingChampionships/tabid/99/Default.aspx
RLSSA would also like to extend a huge thank you to the families and friends who came along to support the Australian teams at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships 2011 in Durban.
Australia's premier coaches lead charge for Commonwealth glory
The outstanding coaching depth in Royal Life Saving is represented by the countries premier Pool Lifesaving coaches leading the charge for Commonwealth glory in the upcoming 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships which are being held in Durban South Africa late September.
Members of the Australian team, affectionately known as the Aussie Barras and the Australian Development team are trained by an array of coaching talent that is unsurpassed in Australia.
Coordinated and led by Australian Pool Life Saving coach Bec Cohen, Australian team members in Queensland are individually coached by Sue Baxter Winch, Ashley Gordon and legend of pool lifesaving Sarah Windsor. Within New South Wales team members are trained by former Australian team coach, Tony Stanley and three time world interclub champion coach Gray Parkes. Athletes representing Australia from Victoria are trained by Victorian State Team Coach and Australian Under 19 (Silver Barras) Team James Evans.
The coaching framework within Royal Life Saving was integrated into the development pathways of Australian age group teams and the elite athlete programs was implemented over a decade ago. The development of Royal Life Saving coaches has been instrumental in Australia remaining as the number one lifesaving team during that period with many athletes in the Australian lifesaving teams that have competed in World Championships and World Games having been trained by Royal Life Saving coaches.
Leading Australian Pool Life Saving Club, Port Hacking Lifeguards on pool deck at the Alexandria Army Barracks Pool in Egypt, the location of the 2010 World Pool Life Saving Championships. Port Hacking Lifeguards coached by Australian Team coach Bec Cohen finished second in the unofficial team point score behind the sensational Aquasport club from Italy.
RLSSA World Champion Interclub SERC Team
Felysia Konakoff (Captain), Andrew Fisher, Christina Ruiz and Siobhan Jones
Highlighting the coaching expertise involved in this team were gold medals in the SERC event, the women's line throw and women's 100m tow plus silver medals in the men's line throw and women's 4 x 25m manikin relay. Bronze medals were won in the men's 200m obstacles, women's line throw, women's 4 x 50m obstacles and women's 4 x 50m medley relay.
Other outstanding coaching results by Royal Life Saving coaches at the 2010 World Life Saving Championships Pool competition were recorded by Sue Baxter Winch, Tony Stanley, Sarah Windsor, Ashley Gordon and Gray Parkes.
South Africa here we come
The RLSSA Australian Lifesaving Team affectionately known throughout the lifesaving world as the Aussie Barras, has been selected to compete in the 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Durban, South Africa this coming September.
The team will be led by the management team of Jeannie Baxter Reid - Manager (QLD) and Rebecca Cohen - Australian Pool Life Saving Coach (WA), and consists of the following champion Pool Lifesaving athletes:
Team Captains Andrew Bowden (NSW) and Felysia Konakoff (NSW); Blake McCrindle (NSW), Sam Bell (QLD), Tim Schofield (NSW), Mitch Parkes (NSW), Alisha Ellwood (QLD), Jane Cooper (NSW), Pam Hendry (QLD) and Alicia Kirk (QLD). Roz Grey (NSW) has been selected as the Team Official to accompany the Aussie Barras to South Africa.
The 2011 Aussie Barras is a perfect blend of seasoned international athletes and exciting young rookies, champing at the bit for the opportunity to race on the world stage and stake their claim as the next generation of champion pool lifesavers representing RLSSA.
RLSSA National Sport Advisor Gray Parkes has indicated that this team is something very special and has the capability to not only continue Australia's winning streak at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships but for a number of the team members to be selected in the united Australian Life Saving Team to contest the 2012 World Life Saving Championships in Adelaide.
The Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships is an extremely tough competition involving leading lifesaving nations throughout the Commonwealth such as South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Singapore. Australia is the current champion nation having won the competition in Edmonton, Canada in 2009.
There is also a development competition run in conjunction with the main competition. RLSSA will be represented in this event by the 2011 RLSSA Australian Lifesaving Development Team which will be led by the management team of Penny Cohen - Manager (WA) and Ashley Gordon - Australian Pool Lifesaving Development Coach (QLD).
The Development Team consists of a couple of very experienced competitors and a number of young competitors who will be making their international debut. The team consists of:
Dane Farrell (NSW), Matt Perriman (SA), Mitch Hartman (WA), Jed Boxall (NSW), Lisa Ferguson (VIC), Sarah Hamilton (WA), Caris Dempster (WA), Siobhan Jones (NSW) and Felicity Harrison (VIC).
U16 Junior Barra girls win female pool point-score at 2011 Arafura Games in Darwin
At the recent 2011 Arafura Games held on 7 - 14 May in Darwin, the mighty U16 Junior Barras finished third in the overall pool competition and third in the combined pool/open water competition.
In an amazing team performance, competing against Open and U19 teams, the RLSSA Junior Barras
were the only U16 team in the competition and performed magnificently to figure prominently in the majority of medal presentations in the pool competition.
One of many highlights included the U16 Junior Barra girls winning the overall female pool point-score and succeeded in claiming three gold medals.
The U16 Junior Barra boys showed great courage in competing against much older competitors and finished a very close fourth in the overall male pool point-score, which could have been much different except for a couple of very unfortunate disqualifications.
The leadership of Team Coach - Ashley Gordon and Team Manager - Katrina Kirk was a significant factor in the success of the Junior Barras they are congratulated on doing a fantastic job.
Following a change in the age ruling; the next Arafura Games in 2013 will be attended by the U19 Silver Barras team.
RLSSA would like to congratulate the 2011 Junior Barras on their great results.
The 2011 U16 Junior Barra Team :
Nick Brooks - NSW
Macauley Kippen - QLD
Jed Boxall - NSW
David Elliott - QLD
Alexandra Nolan - QLD
Alisha Ellwood - QLD
Eilish Fahey - QLD
Shayla Gimblett - QLD
Team Coach: Ashley Gordon - QLD
Team Manager: Katrina Kirk - QLD
RLSSA Official: Jo Teagle - VIC
Please refer to the documents below for the individual results of the Junior Barras.
2011 Arafura Games - International Lifesaving Overall Results (944KB)
2011 Arafura Games Individual Pool Lifesaving Results (31KB)
2011 Arafura Games Team Pool Lifesaving Results (11KB)
RLSSA athletes star at Sportstar Awards
One of the largest sportstar award ceremonies in NSW were held on Friday 29 April at Doltone House in the south of Sydney. The Sutherland and St George Leader Sportstar of the Year Awards began in 1975 and include former winners Ian Thorpe (Swimming), Martin Vinnicombe (Cycling), Kostya Tszyu (Boxing) and Glen McGrath (Cricket).
This year the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia were represented in three categories:
1. Senior Team Award
Port Hacking Lifeguard Club SERC team received their nomination for winning the 2010 World Interclub SERC championship at the World Life Saving Championships in Egypt. The team consisted of Felysia Konakoff (Captain), Siobhan Jones, Christina Ruiz and Andrew Fisher.
2. Junior Sportstar Award
Mitch Hartman was nominated for his success at the past two APLSC by winning the U19 Male Overall Championship and being selected in the Australian U19 Silver Barra's team.
3. Senior Sportstar Award
Mitch Parkes was nominated for being named Lifesaver of the Year at the 2010 APLSC, his selection in the successful Australian Life Saving team that competed in the 2010 World Life Saving Championships in Egypt and being the leading pointscorer in the pool competition for the Australian team.
Mitch Parkes was successful in winning the Encouragement Award in the Senior Sportstar category behind Karlee McCulloch (cycling) the current World and Commonwealth Games track cycling gold medallist and winner Chris McCormack (triathlon) the 2010 World Iron Man triathlon champion.
RLSSA would like to congratulate their members on their nominations and success at the The Sutherland and St George Leader Sportstar of the Year Awards and wish them continuing success in their sporting endeavours.
If any RLSSA athletes receive recognition for their contribution to RLSSA Sport please contact Emma MacMillan on emacmillan@rlssa.org.au so you can be reconised for your efforts.
RLSSA - Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships 2011 Announcements
Following the appointment of RLSSA world leading officials to the Chief Referee and SERC Referee positions at the upcoming 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Durban South Africa, further announcements have been made by RLSSA in relation to the Championships.
Australian U16 Junior Barras Coach Ashley Gordon (Qld) has been appointed as the coach of the Australian Development Team to contest the development competition and Penny Cohen (WA) has been appointed as the Manager of the Australian Development Team.
Both Ashley and Penny bring years of experience to the management team travelling to South Africa. Penny will be continuing from her very successful role with the 2009 Australian Development Team that competed in Edmonton Canada. Ashley is the coach of the Junior Barras team which will be contesting the upcoming 2011 Arafura Games in May at Darwin and he was the coach of the Qld team that was successful in claiming the Interstate Point Score Trophy at last years National Championships.
Roz Grey has been selected as the team official to travel with the Aussie Barras team. Roz's selection follows her outstanding performances over the past number of years from her position as the Australian Pool Life Saving Chief Referee, Deputy Referee at the 2010 World Pool Life Saving Championships and now her appointment as the 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships Chief Referee.
Leading the management team for the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships will be Jeanie Baxter Reid (Qld), the manager of the Aussie Barras team and Bec Cohen, the Aussie Barras team coach. Both Jeanie and Bec will be following on from their outstanding performances at the recent 2010 World Life Saving Championships in Egypt where Jeanie was the team manager of the champion Australian Life Saving Team and Bec was the team coach of the RLSSA Port Hacking Lifeguard Club which claimed unofficial second place in the pool interclub competition and second in the overall interclub competition behind the outstanding Aqua Sport club from Italy.
All official touring party positions have now been appointed and all that awaits now is the final selection of the Aussie Barras team and the Australian Development Team which will be undertaken at the upcoming Australian Pool Life Saving Championships to be held in Brisbane commencing 10 June 2011.
Congratulations to our outstanding officials, coaches and managers who have been selected to represent RLSSA in Durban South Africa. I am sure everyone will represent RLSSA with pride and continue with our fine tradition of sportsmanship and professionalism.
Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships Key Officials announced!
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia would like to congratulate Roz Grey and Anni Gardiner on their appointments as Referees at the upcoming 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships to be held in Durban, South Africa in September.
Chief Referee - Roz Grey
SERC Referee - Anni Gardiner
For more information regarding the 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships please visit the Royal Life Saving Commonwealth website - www.rlsscommonwealth.org
Congratulations once again Roz & Anni!
Australian Under 16 Junior Barra Life Saving Team - Arafura Games, Darwin, May 2011
The Australian Pool Life Saving Championships 2011 to be conducted in Brisbane on 13 - 15 January were unfortunately postponed due to the natural disaster and widespread flooding that occurred in the region. The Championships have been rescheduled to 10 - 12 June and will be held at the Chandler Aquatic Centre in Brisbane.
The postponement of the Championships affected the selection of the Australian Under 16 Junior Barra Life Saving Team who will be competing in the 2011 Arafura Games, Darwin, Northern Territory in May. As the reigning Champions of the Arafura Games Life Saving competition it was imperative to conduct selection trials to select the Australian Under 16 Team to compete at the Games.
The National Sport Committee made a decision to undertake an Australian first by conducting a series of state-based remote time trial events across Australia for the selection of the Under 16 team. Following an allocated time frame of three weeks which the states had to complete their trial all results were forwarded to the National Sport and Events Officer, Emma MacMillan who collated all times and awarded points (as per the Australian Pool Life Saving point score) to the list of final results.
Based on the results of the Remote Time Trials; the Australian Under 16 Junior Barra Life Saving Team 2011 has been selected:
Nick Brooks - NSW
Macauley Kippen - QLD
Jed Boxall - NSW
David Elliott - QLD
Alexandra Nolan - QLD
Alisha Ellwood - QLD
Eilish Fahey - QLD
Shayla Gimblett - QLD
Team Coach: Ashley Gordon - QLD
Team Manager: Katrina Kirk - QLD
RLSSA Official: Jo Teagle - VIC
During the remote time trials which were conducted in ILS compliant pools and under the auspices of leading Australian Pool Life Saving officials, four Under 16 Australian records were broken. Congratulations Alexandra Nolan, Alisha Ellwood and Nerice Smith. The new National records are:
Alexandra Nolan (QLD) - U16 Womens 100m Manikin Carry (1:07.41)
Alexandra Nolan (QLD) - U16 Womens 200m Superlifesaver (2:47.18)
Alisha Ellwood (QLD) - U16 Womens 50m Manikin Carry (39.52)
Nerice Smith (VIC) - U16 Womens 200m Obstacles (2:20.47)
The selection of the Australian Under 16 Life Saving Team to compete in the Arafura Games stretches back to 2003 and has been an identified pathway for athletes who have become Commonwealth and World Life Saving Champions and medallists whilst representing RLSS-A. These athletes include James Cohen, Steve Parkes, Mitch Parkes, Christina Ruiz, Ty Collins, Jess Brooks and Blake McCrindle. Whilst being a pathway for athletes, two Under 16 Australian Team coaches have also progressed to being Head Coach of the RLSSA Aussie Barras team producing Australian, Commonwealth and World Champion athletes. These coaches are Tony Stanley and Rebecca Cohen.
The National Sport Committee would like to thank all participating states and officials for supporting the Remote Time Trials and providing the opportunity for our future champions to gain selection in the Australian Under 16 Junior Barra Team.
The 2011 Australian Under 16 Junior Barra Life Saving team will continue in the footsteps of previous teams and represent RLSSA with pride and passion. The team has been provided with a fantastic opportunity to compete at an international level which will assist in their development as pool lifesavers and hopefully see them representing Australia at a senior level in the near future.
Overall Results - Remote Time Trials 2011:
Mens U16 Remote Time Trial Results 2011 (78KB)
Womens U16 Remote Time Trial Results 2011 (80KB)
15 National Records broken at the 2010 Australian Pool Life Saving Short Course Championships!
APLSC Short Course Results
Results_-_APLSC_Short_Course_2010.pdf (71KB)
APLSC Short Course Records
APLSC_Short_Course_Records__Oct10_1.pdf (11KB)
At the recent 2010 Australian Pool Life Saving Short Course Championships held at the newly completed RLSS NSW Aquatic Safety Training Academy at Seven Hills in NSW, 15 national records were broken by Australia's leading pool lifesavers. It was a pleasure to have six recent World Champion gold medallists from Egypt compete at the championships along with another two world championship medallists. The gold medallists included Pamela Hendry, Felysia Konakoff, Christina Ruiz and Mitch Parkes plus Masters Steve Boxall and Gray Parkes. The world championship medallists included Jane Cooper and Jess Brooks.
Competitors, officials and coaches participated from the majority of Australian States with a number of officials backing up at the championships after recently returning from the World Life Saving Championships in Egypt. These officials included Jim and Barb Morgan, Anni Gardiner, Francis Evans and Jo Teagle who all travelled from Victoria to officiate on the day. It was a fun sight to see Barb, Anni and Frances dressed in their colourful Egyptian galabeyas whilst officiating on pool deck.
There were a number of outstanding performances at the short course championships with the most impressive being Ben Fishburn in the U16 male age group winning four individual gold medals and Louise Smalley in the U16 female age group winning three individual gold medals. In the U19 male age group Mitch Hartman also won four individual gold medals and backed up in the open age group to finish with a silver and bronze medal.
The RLSS-A short course championships are an initiative implemented by the National Sports Committee a number of years ago to provide a fun competitive environment which amplifies the importance of pool lifesaving skills for competitors. Many comments were echoed at the completion of the championships about how much fun everyone had whilst really enjoying the tough competition.
Special mention needs to be made of Emma MacMillan the recently appointed National Sport Development Officer who conducted these championships. Emma did an amazing job and was ably assisted by Roz Grey the RLSS-A APLSC Chief Referee and her band of hard working officials.
RLSS-A Masters compete at 2010 World Life Saving Championships in Egypt
Masters competitors from Ithica Caloundra Life Saving Club in Queensland and Port Hacking Lifeguard Club from NSW represented RLSS-A at the recent 2010 World Life Saving Championships in Egypt.
Competitors from both clubs performed with distinction representing RLSS-A with pride and gusto giving their all in the events they competed. Special mention must be made of Anni Gardiner who was officiating on the day of the masters competition as the race marshall. It was a funny sight to see and hear Anni marshalling herself for races, competing and then immediately resuming her role as marshall. This performance by Anni demonstrated her commitment to the sport and displayed the enjoyment she receives as both an official and competitor.
Another special mention should be made of Julie Parkes, Rob Reid and Brad Clegg. Julie competed in her first ever lifesaving event and finished with a silver medal in the line throw with Anni. Julie spent many hours honing her skills as a patient in preparation for these championships and it was a great sight to see Anni and Julie finish with a silver medal. Rob and Brad won gold in the line throw with the fastest time for all Masters age groups. Congratulations!
It was also great to see Shayne Baker make a return to the pool. Shayne is the immediate past President of RLSS-A and his commitment to sport as the President is continuing now as a masters competitor.
Competitors from Port Hacking Lifeguard Club included:
Anni Gardiner
Julie Parkes
Shayne Baker
Vaughan Jones
Steve Boxall
Gray Parkes
Competitors from Ithaca Caloundra included:
Lynda Barry
Paul Barry
Jeannie Baxter-Reid
Rob Reid
Brad Clegg
Diane Clegg
Robert Schwartz
Port Hacking top results:
Gold Medal
40/44 years Men's 100m Tow - Steve Boxall (new world record)
50/54 years Men's 100m Tow - Gray Parkes (new world record)
Silver Medal
40/44 years Women's Line Throw - Anni Gardiner (thrower) Julie Parkes (patient)
50/54 years Men's Line Throw - Gray Parkes (thrower) Vaughan Jones (patient)
50/54 years Men's 100m Carry - Gray Parkes
Bronze Medal
50/54 years Mens 200m Obstacles - Gray Parkes
40/44 years Men's Line Throw - Steve Boxall (thrower) Shayne Baker (patient)
Fourth Place
40/44 years Women's 50m Carry - Anni Gardiner
40/44 years Men's 200m Obstacles - Steve Boxall
50/54 years Mens 50m Carry - Gray Parkes
Men's Over 200 years 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay - Steve Boxall, Gray Parkes, Shayne Baker, Vaughan Jones
Ithaca Caloundra top results -
Gold Medal
Men's 45/49 years Line Throw - Rob Reid (thrower) Brad Clegg (patient)
Bronze Medal
Men's 40/44 years Board Rescue - Paul Barry, Robert Schwartz
Port Hacking Lifeguard Club leads Australian clubs at Rescue 10, Alexandria, Egypt.
At the recent 2010 World Life Saving Championships held in Alexandria, Egypt, Port Hacking Lifeguard Club from the southern suburbs of Sydney were announced at the final presentation ceremony as coming second in the medal tally in the pool competition and third overall behind the powerful Rane Rosso Aquasport Club from Italy. This result placed Port Hacking Lifeguards as the leading lifesaving club from Australia at the 2010 World Championships.
Port Hacking Lifeguard Club started planning for Rescue 10 eighteen months ago and left Australia with a touring party of forty people including competitors, coaches, officials and supporters. The final medal tally for the interclub pool competition was three gold, two silver and four bronze medals whilst the masters competitors finished with two gold, four silver and one bronze in the masters pool competition. Bec Cohen, the head coach of the Port Hacking touring team must be congratulated on a fantastic performance for applying her knowledge and experience on the pool deck both before and during the competition.
There were many highlights of the competition for the Port Hacking competitors with many obtaining personal best times in their individual events and some sensational team results. As a Royal Life Saving Club the results in the SERC competition were outstanding, the heats consisted of approximately fifty teams and Port Hacking Lifeguards had their four teams make the final of twelve teams. Port Hacking were successful in winning the SERC competition which definitely was an outstanding achievement.
An example of the quality of the competition at Rescue 10 was the final of the men's 100m tow. This event was the fastest final in the history of the sport with a time of 56.7 required to make the final.
Congratulations also must go to Masters athletes Gray Parkes and Steve Boxall who set new world records in the 50/54 years Men's 100m Tow - Gray Parkes (new world record) and 40/44 years Men's 100m Tow - Steve Boxall (new world record) respectively.
The experience gained by all involved in the Port Hacking touring party will definitely assist in their development as the environment and conditions were very different and at times difficult to adjust to. This being said, the management team of Bec Cohen, Steve Boxall, Vaughan Jones and Gray Parkes greatly assisted in ensuring the competitors could perform to the best of their ability.
Special mention should be made of both Mitch Parkes and Felysia Konakoff who competed in the National Teams World Championship prior to the interclub competition and assisted Australia to win the National Teams World Championship. Mitch and Felysia then had to back up and compete for Port Hacking Lifeguard Club which resulted in a competition campaign of approximately nine days which is a phenomenal achievement at this level.
Port Hacking Lifeguard Club pool results:
Gold Medal
SERC - Felysia Konakoff, Andrew Fisher, Siobhan Jones, Christina Ruiz
Women's 12m Line Throw - Alicia Kirk (thrower) Pamela Hendry (patient)
Women's 100 Manikin Tow - Pamela Hendry
Silver Medal
Men's 12m Line Throw - Mitch Parkes (thrower) Luke Harper (patient)
Women's 4 x 25m Manikin Relay - Felysia Konakoff, Pamela Hendry, Jane Cooper, Christina Ruiz
Bronze Medal
Men's 200m Obstacles - Ty Collins
Women's 12m Line Throw - Felysia Konakoff (thrower) Jess Brooks (patient)
Women's 4 x 50m Medley Relay - Pamela Hendry, Jess Brooks, Jane Cooper, Felysia Konakoff
Wmen's 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay - Felysia Konakoff, Pamela Hendry, Natalie Glossat, Jane Cooper
Fourth Place
Women's 100m Manikin Carry - Pamela Hendry
Women's 100m Manikin Tow - Felysia Konakoff
Women's 200m Super Lifesaver - Felysia Konakoff
Men's 100m Manikin Tow - Mitch Parkes
Fifth Place
Men's 100m Manikin Carry - Mitch Parkes
Women's 200m Super Lifesaver - Alicia Kirk
Women's 50m Manikin Carry - Pamela Hendry
SERC - Mitch Parkes, Mitch Hartman, Steve Boxall, Gray Parkes
Sixth Place
Men's 100m Rescue Medley - Luke Harper
Men's 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay - Luke Harper, Brian Lim, Scott Fisher, Ty Collins
Seventh Place
Women's 100m Rescue Medley - Jane Cooper
SERC - Scott Fisher, Jess Brooks, Jane Cooper, Luke Harper
Eighth Place
Women's 100m Manikin Carry - Felysia Konakoff
SERC - Brian Lim, Natalie Glossat, Pamela Hendry, Alicia Kirk
Royal Life Saving Pool Life Saving Officials:
Roz Grey
Anni Gardiner
Barb Morgan
Jim Morgan
Frances Evans
Vaughan Jones
Shayne Baker
Jo Teagle
Helen Quinn
Sue Baxter-Winch
John Winch
The RLSS-A officials played an integral part in conducting the 2010 World Life Saving Championships. These officials officiated for seven days straight thoughout the National Teams pool competition, the Masters pool competition and the Interclub SERC and pool competition, some of the days lasted up to fourteen hours and as such were very long and tiring days in temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees celsius. Other officials who assisted at the championships included Jaci Baxter and Lyndon Zimmerman. Congratulations to all on a fantastic performance.
All in all the 2010 World Life Saving Championships were an outstanding success for RLSS-A and the Port Hacking Lifeguard Club. The performances by our team members, coaches, managers and officials in very trying conditions proved that the development pathways provided by RLSS-A are proving to be very successful and we look forward to the 2012 World Life Saving Championships in Adelaide, Australia.
AUSTRALIA - WORLD LIFESAVING CHAMPIONS 2010
RESCUE 2010 - Alexandria, Egypt
The Lifesaving World Championships, Rescue10 National Teams competition has concluded in Alexandria, Egypt. After days of extremely close competition both in the pool and at the beach, Australia successfully claimed the 2010 World Championship title from neighbouring rivals New Zealand.
Congratulations to the Australian Lifesaving Team for their tremendous efforts in the pool and at the beach. Well done!
2010 Australian Lifesaving Team:
Andrew Bowden
Mitchell Parkes
Shannon Eckstein (Captain)
Chris Allum
Thomas Nolan
Downie Langthorne
Felysia Konakoff
Stephanie Ballantine
Naomi Flood
Kristyl Smith
Laura Shorter
Miranda Bell
Manager: Jeannie Baxter - Reid
Ocean Coach: Brett Dowker
Pool Coach: Daniel Short
Physiotherapist: Erin Braund
Sports Scientist: Wade Sinclair
Top 10 Overall Point Score
1. Australia - 800
2. New Zealand - 776
3. Germany - 534
4. Italy - 516
5. South Africa - 482
6. France - 468
7. Netherlands - 311
8. Japan - 298
9. Spain - 293
10. USA - 245
For full results and information please visit Rescue 2010
