Torquay triumph for Team T

TORQUAY SLSC has emerged on top at Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) biggest event of the season against the state’s best junior lifesavers across three days of competition.

Nippers from 24 competing clubs descended on Warrnambool for the Victorian Junior Championships held from March 10-12.

Torquay’s elite performances over the Labour Day weekend enabled them to finish with 336 points, edging out runners-up Ocean Grove SLSC (317 points) and Mornington Life Saving Club (234 points).

Anglesea placed sixth in the total standings with 159 points.

The Surf Coast club’s win was the first time in a decade a club other than Mentone (2013-2017) and Ocean Grove (2018-2022) had won the state championships.

Torquay SLSC Nippers coordinator Matt Carmichael praised every one of the club’s junior participants following the win.

“I am so proud of the efforts of all of our Nippers,” Mr Carmichael said.

“Every one of them gave it their all and through to represent Team T, and they all did it with a smile on their face.

“As always, I saw our Nippers demonstrate tremendous respect for the officials and their fellow competitors and love how our kids are always just so happy to be there and having fun with their mates.

Torquay SLSC prides itself on being an all-inclusive club, one of the factors in its Labour Day weekend win.

“Team work makes the dream work.”

Torquay SLSC currently trains a cohort of 600 Nippers.

Addy Russell (front) leads Torquay SLSC in the traditional march to kick off proceedings.

In the headline events, Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club’s Noah Chapple and Anglesea SLSC’s Summer Morgan were crowned under 13 water champions, while Ocean Grove’s Ryan Tolley and Williamstown’s Mahli McCarroll were overall beach champions.

In the team events, Lorne SLSC and Fairhaven SLSC took out the respective under 13 boys’ and girls’ Aqua Cameron relay events, combining board paddling, swimming and running skills.

Fairhaven SLSC’s Annabel Chan, Under 13 competitor and nipper captain.

LSV senior sport manager Chris Schleusener congratulated all in attendance, for an outstanding weekend of competition.

“Our Nippers are the future of our volunteer lifesaving force and to see such an incredible display of skill and teamwork shows that the future of lifesaving in Victoria is bright,” Mr Schleusener said.

“From the traditional march past and belt and reel disciplines showing lifesaving’s proud history, to the rescue ready board paddling and surf swimming, lifesaving sport is full of exciting disciplines, all combined with the community mindset of comradery between teams and clubs.

Ocean Grove’s state titles reign came to an end, finishing second to Torquay with 317 points.

“It was fantastic to head west to Warrnambool SLSC, which provided our juniors with an idyllic backdrop and challenging but fun conditions.”

While the Victorian Junior Championships mark the end of Victoria’s summer lifesaving season, the juniors will remain active over winter when the pool lifesaving season commences in July.

Torquay’s Henry Heyes wades through the water.

All eyes now turn towards the 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, which will be held in Perth at Scarboro SLSC and Trigg Island SLSC from March 25 to April 2.