First Championship Day gives juniors a chance to show skills

Broome Surf Lifesaving Club juniors battled against offshore winds on Sunday, June 30, with the first of four 2013 Championship Days held on Cable Beach for budding lifesavers between the age of nine and 13.

The competition involved four disciplines for all age grades. A 70m beach sprint was followed by a beach flag event, which is designed to help lifesavers work quickly in emergency situations.

The young athletes competed in a 150m-250m swim race and finished with a boards event on a larger, 280m apex course.

In the under-9s event, Tahlia Wilkinson won all four events in the girls’ competition. In the boys’ events, Max Beadle and Jericho Dale won two races each, with the former taking the swim and boards disciplines, and the latter victorious in sprints and flags.

Nova Kelly won both the sprint and flags events in the under-10 girls’ competition. Lucy Harris prevailed in boards, while Gemma Kent won the swim. Charlie Fountain and Beau

Baddock claimed two events each in the boys’ division.

Ben Shipway-Carr impressed in the under-11 boys’ competition, winning all four races. Mia Baddock was first in three events in the girls’ division, while Bree Potter won the swim race.

In the under-12’s division, Samuel Lynch topped the group in sprints and flags. Joel Ruttiman took first place in the boards, with Daniel Ralph prevailing in the swim bout. Chelsea Hall and Stephanie Bardill shared two victories each in the under- 12 girls’ competition.

The under-13s saw Jazmin Shipway- Carr repeat her baby brother’s feat, taking first in all four events. The boys’ events were split, with newcomer Max Healey winning the sprint and flags, and Connor Stone the swim and boards.

Junior activities officer Jodie Lynch said the competition days are important in honing young members’ skills.

“Although our Nippers start from five years of age, as the kids develop we gradually extend their skills into the competitive side of life saving,” she said.

“This prepares them mentally and physically to respond to a range of conditions in the surf and on the beach — it is where the theory and practice meet.”