The future of lifesaving is bright, with 860 junior competitors putting their skills on show in Lorne last weekend for the Victorian Junior Championships.
The juniors, aged from under nine to under 13, competed in beach, water and lifesaving disciplines, which served as active training for the skills they required to become qualified lifesavers at age 13.
The Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club was dominant on the day, taking out the overall point score with 474 points, ahead of fellow Geelong and Surf Coast region clubs Angelsea with 259 points and Torquay on 238 points.
Ocean Grove under 13 competitors William Goldstraw and Tobias Hallam also placed second and third respectively in the overall under 13 male water championship rankings, behind Point Leo SLSC’s Oscar Skehan.
Fellow Ocean Grove athletes Chelsea Hanks and Georgie McIntyre also placed second and third behind Mentone’s Katie Gorvett-Page in the overall under 13 female water championships.
On the sand, Fairhaven SLSC’s Xavier West and Torquay SLSC’s Geordi O’Shannessy were second and third in the under 13 male beach championship rankings, behind Sebastian Jaspers of Mornington LSC, while Fairhaven’s Georgia Benton and Anglesea’s Jasmine Hume were second and third in the female beach rankings, behind Altona LSC competitor Charlotte Dunn.
Life Saving Victoria aquatic sport manager Simon Butterly said there was an impressive showing of skills from the region’s future lifesavers.
“I am so impressed with the skills, teamwork and comraderie shown by our junior athletes at the 2022 Junior Victorian Lifesaving Championships,” he said.
“The level of talent in the water and on the beach, as well as the competitive spirit seen from all our competitors and clubs, makes me very excited for the future of both lifesaving sports and our patrol service for many years to come.
“The skills gained throughout these lifesavers’ early years of competition could help our junior athletes to save a life while on patrol.
“I would like to thank Lorne SLSC for hosting us, the officials and powercraft crews for their tireless efforts on the beach for the three days, the clubs, coaches, team managers and parents and all the other volunteers whose hard work behind the scenes which made this weekend a success.”
