Victorian Masters hit the beach at Lorne

HUNDREDS of lifesavers aged from 30 to 76 competed in the 2022 Victorian Masters Lifesaving Championships at Lorne Surf Life Saving Club.

Local clubs represented at the event on February 12-13 included Anglesea SLSC, Fairhaven SLSC, Jan Juc SLSC, Lorne SLSC, Ocean Grove SLSC, Torquay SLSC and Wye River SLSC.

Ocean Grove SLSC placed second overall for the water competition, with 151 points, followed by Jan Juc SLSC in fifth place, Anglesea in sixth and Lorne in seventh.

In the beach events, Jan Juc SLSC was the highest scoring team for the region, placing sixth with 54 points, followed by Lorne in ninth with 31.6 points.

“This season, encouraging increased opportunities for our masters competitors has been a key priority, so we are delighted to have had so many athletes giving their all at this weekend’s championships,” Life Saving Victoria general manager education, sport and club development Kate Simpson said.

“Lifesaving is for everyone, of all ages and abilities and sport is a fantastic way for our patrolling members to actively train so they are rescue ready when patrolling our beaches.

“We are very grateful to Lorne SLSC and the local community for hosting us in this great region and we can’t wait to return in two weeks’ time for the Victorian Junior Championships.”

The action on Sunday also included an invitational carnival for under-13s, aimed mostly at the under-13 athletes who are intending to compete at the 2022 Aussies – to be held on the Gol Coast from April 2-10 – which will include that age group for the first time this year.