Ash Bolt
The region’s surf lifesavers showed their skills last weekend, when the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club hosted the 2022 Victorian Masters Chamionships.
Hundreds of lifesavers from around the country flocked to Lorne for the competition, which featured surf lifesavers aged 30 and over.
Competitors from the Anglesea, Fairhaven, Jan Juc, Lorne, Ocean Grove, Torquay and Wye River clubs represented the Geelong, Surf Coast and Otway regions.
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 [last] weekend’s championships,” Life Saving Victoria education, sport and club development general manager Kate Simpson said.
“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.”
Among the stand out individual performers on the day were Ocean Grove SLSC’s Sean McGee, who took out the ironman, board race and single ski race for the men’s 40-44 division, as well as a second-place finish in the surf race.
Anglesea SLSC’s Naantali Marshall was equally impressive, taking out first place in the ironwoman, surf race and board race in the women’s 45-49 division.
Jan Juc was a strong performer in the team events, taking the wins in the women’s Taplin and board relays, as well as a second in the surf team event.
Ocean Grove was also consistent with four second places and a win in the men’s board relay.
In the beach events, Lorne SLSC’s Lauren Howley and Wye River SLSC’s Michael Barrand both claimed three wins in their events – the beach sprints, flags and longer runs.
