Local lifesavers win at Australian IRB Championships

SURF Coast and Bellarine lifesavers helped bring multiple wins home for Victoria at the Sharkskin Australian and Interstate Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships.

Strong performances from Barwon Heads SLSC and Ocean Grove SLSC members helped propel their state to second overall at the national competition on the Gold Coast over the weekend.

Keely Peatling, Samantha Pownall, Tara Scott and Amy Veenendaal from Barwon Heads 13th Beach made up the winning Victorian team for the Open Female Mass Rescue.

The trio were also part of the six-member team that won the Open Female Teams Rescue.

They were joined by fellow Barwon Heads 13th Beach members Thomas Lenehan and Kieran Spanner as part of the 16-member Victorian team that won the Open Mixed Relay.

The two local clubs also competed well in the intra-club competitions, with Ocean Grove finishing second in the U23 Women’s Team Rescue and Barwon Heads 13th Beach making it onto the podium for the Open Women’s Tube Rescue, Open Women’s Surf Rescue and Open Women’s Surf Rescue.

Life Saving Victoria senior manager of aquatic sport Chris Schleusener congratulated lifesavers on their success.

“It was an incredible effort by all of our Victorian clubs to take part in the Australian and Interstate IRB Championships, with competitors driving more than 1,500km to get their boats and themselves to the start line,” he said.

“Congratulations to all competitors for doing your clubs and your state proud and thank you to everyone who supported this major effort to be part of this event.”