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Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club joins Interstate and Australian Inflatable IRB Championships at Mollymook in New South Wales

Local lifesavers from Venus Bay SLSC were among 11 Victorian clubs to compete at the 2022 Australian and Interstate IRB Championships in Mollymook, NSW last weekend.

By news@gippsland - 25th July 2022 - Back to News

Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) inflatable rescue boat (IRB) teams have returned from the Interstate and Australian Inflatable IRB Championships in Mollymook, New South Wales with two semi final appearances under their belt.

From L-R, patient Lachlan Hickey, crew Sophie Glasson and driver Sabrina Lombardo, making Victoria proud, qualifying for two semi finals and six quarter finals IRB racing competitors

Representing their states

In the Australian Championships, Venus Bay's under 23 men's and women's rescue teams, comprising Declan Woolf, Austin Timmins and Rhiannon McCorriston, and Tyla McAlear, Alice Webb and Declan Woolf respectively, were successful in making the semi finals, both finishing 5th, narrowly missing a finals appearance. Venus Bay teams also qualified for six quarter finals, in the:

• Under 23 men's mass rescue (Woolf, Timmins, McCorriston, Lachlan Hickey)
• Under 23 men's tube rescue (Woolf, Timmins, Hickey)
• Open men's mass rescue (Timmins, Hugh Knights, Ella Arnold, Sophie Glasson)
• Open women's rescue (McAlear, Webb, Woolf)
• Open women's mass rescue (McAlear, Webb, Woolf, McCorriston and Arnold, Glasson, Timmins, Alisha Rowden)

Hickey and Woolf also competed in the Interstate Championships, which saw the nation's best drivers, crews and patients selected to represent their respective states in the open state and under 23 development teams.

Athletes team-up

The athletes teamed up with Nicholas Vouk, Lachlan Hirth, Ava Robinson (South Melbourne Life Saving Club) and Brydie Logan (Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club) to place fifth in the men's teams rescue, and Woolf joined Jasmine McJames-Court, Lauren Harrop and Georgie Park-Beard (Elwood LSC) to place sixth in the women's mass rescue, helping Victoria place second overall with 49 points, behind Queensland (51 points).

In addition to athletes, 17 Victorian officials were selected in safety and emergency management, judges, supervisors, starters, appeals, competition liaison, announcing, powercraft and scrutineering roles, including Venus Bay members Elliot Amalos, holding the Surf Life Saving Australia officials' scholarship, and Elise McCorriston.

Qualifying for semi-finals

Life Saving Victoria general manager education, sport and club development Kate Simpson congratulated athletes and officials alike for their efforts on the national stage. "Victorian lifesavers have a fantastic record of outstanding results at the Australian IRB Championships and I am thrilled to say in 2022 we have continued this proud tradition," Ms Simpson said.

"To see Venus Bay qualify for two semi finals and six quarter finals is fantastic and I extend my congratulations to everyone for their amazing efforts in Mollymook. IRB racing allows our athletes to refine key rescue-ready skills driving and crewing the IRB, the most popular piece of modern rescue equipment."

"The IRB racing season may be over, but I look forward to seeing our drivers, crews and patients between the red and yellow flags next patrol season, using their skills to save lives." Ms Simpson said.

Pictures from Life Saving Victoria website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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