IRBs take off in Lorne championship

THE Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) dominated the 2022 inflatable rescue boat (IRB) finals in Lorne last weekend, ultimately crowned as state champions ahead of Elwood and South Melbourne in second and third places.

SLSCs from the Surf Coast and the Bellarine competed in more than a dozen events against clubs from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and South Gippsland in the final meeting on the Victorian IRB calendar for the year.

Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC placed first in the Open men’s and women’s rescue, open men’s tube and mass rescue events and second in the open women’s mass rescue.

Ocean Grove SLSC received honourable mentions for several top three event placings.

The championships are an annual chance for clubs to demonstrate their aptitude on the “workhorse” of ocean lifesaving, with IRB’s used for 142 rescues during the 2021-22 Victorian
patrol season.

The Australian IRB Championships will be held at Mollymook SLSC in New South Wales in late July, from 21-24.

“IRB racing is not only a thrilling spectator sport, particularly in the surf, but facing a range of conditions like those at Lorne is also great practice for our athletes, who are the same lifesavers you see on patrol across the state during the summer,” LSV board director Aaron Green said.