Lorne SLSC emerges junior champions of the pool

LORNE Surf Life Saving Club are champions of the pool following its successful win at Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) state pool championships.

Lorne was one of seven clubs across the state to descend on Geelong Grammar School for the junior championships on September 11.

Competitors took part in races including swim races, tube tows, manikin carries, line throws and obstacle races, proving that they will be prepared to join their senior counterparts as pool lifeguards.

An Ocean Grove junior conducting a rope rescue.

Lorne scored 301 points overall, while fellow south-west club Ocean Grove SLSC was second with 218.75 points.

Ocean Grove backed this up following their strong performance at the senior pool lifesaving championships at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre the week before, where they again finished second overall with 181.5 points.

LSV manager aquatic sport Simon Butterly said pool lifesaving provided upcoming lifeguards to maintain and refine their rescue-ready skills during winter.

“It was great to see such a strong turnout at both the senior and junior pool lifesaving championships, which shows that even though winter might be considered ‘off-season’, our lifesavers are determined to stay rescue-ready, race-fit and engaged with aquatic sport.

Jan Juc was also one of the local clubs in attendance.

“The senior athletes diving into the competition were the very same ones you see in the iconic red and yellow uniform during summer, which is another example of the dedication our lifesavers have to our movement, keeping people safe in, on and around Victorian waterways.”

The first of four major carnivals on the LSV calendar takes place in a month as the Victorian Endurance Championships heads to Torquay’s Cosy Corner on October 22.

“Our junior athletes are not only the future of our sport, but also of our lifesaving service, when they qualify for their surf rescue certificate and begin patrolling as volunteers at age 13,” Mr Butterly said.

“I extend my congratulations to all of our lifesaving clubs and athletes on their fantastic performances and thank the volunteers who officiated over both days, making the events possible.”