Local lifesavers represent at Aussie Champs

LOCAL surf life saving clubs have performed exceptionally at this year’s national championships as athletes brought home five gold, two silver and three bronze medals, across water, lifesaving and surf boat disciplines.

Surf Life Saving Clubs from all over the Bellarine and Surf Coast regions made their way up to the Gold Coast for the 2022 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

‘The Aussies’ welcomed more than 7,200 athletes from more than 300 surf lifesaving clubs across Australia, a record attendance for the annual meet.

Torquay SLSC displayed finalists at all age groups with Harris Henderson and Millie Harris making it to their respective finals in the under 15 and under 17 board race.

2022’s women’s Jim Wall IronMan winner Sophie Thomas continued performing at an elite level making it to the open female board and surf race finals for Torquay SLSC.

Rounding out Torquay’s finalists included Thomas’s male Jim Wall counterpart Matt Gilling in the open male surf race (16th), while fellow club members Jayden Schram and Ben Harris made it to the last event of the open male board race as well.

Torquay SLSC also finished 14th in the open female board relay and 11th in the open men’s board relay.

“The event as a whole was one of community,” Torquay SLSC club captain Julian Sweeney said.

“Everyone was happy to be back, and it was good to see some familiar faces too from the big clubs to the small clubs from across the country.

“I am also exceptionally proud of the efforts our club made from our junior competitors to our open competitors.”

Notably for Lorne SLSC, William Newton was happy with an 11th placed finish in the under 14 surf race.
Ocean Grove SLSC represented the Bellarine with an abundance of gusto.

Hudson Pearce placed 13th in the under 15 board race, Tia McNaughton placed 10th in the under 17 female ski race and Campbell Asher was a feature in the under 17 male surf race final.

Anglesea SLSC proved superior on the sand with its Rescue & Resuscitation team’s executed its plan to perfection.

The squad walked away with gold medals in the open women, open mixed five person and open mixed six person events, a triple threat of medals.

“I’m incredibly proud of the performances of our athletes at the recent Australian Championships over the past week,” Anglesea SLSC president David Marsh said.

“Our Anglesea R&R team did us especially proud winning three gold medals and our juniors performed amazingly with a number of athletes making finals.”

The region also continued its history of a strong presence in the surf boat events, with masters women Lorne Again winning gold and masters men Jan Juc SLSC Rams taking silver in their respective divisions, and Anglesea SLSC Lightning qualifying for the open women’s final, finishing in sixth place.

Up next on the Surf Coast, Victorian clubs will make their way to Anglesea for the next stop on the LSV calendar competing in the second round of the Senior IRB Carnival.