VENUS Bay Surf Life Saving Club has returned home from the Inflatable Rescue Boat National Championships at South West Rocks in NSW with two medals including gold for the Open Women’s Mass Rescue.
Mixing it with the best rescue boat crews from across the country it was the club’s first Australian title in any form of lifesaving competition in the club’s 66 year history.
Life Saving Victoria Senior Manager Sport Chris Schleusener congratulated Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club for their outstanding efforts representing the club and their state.
“This is a huge achievement for our Victorian volunteer lifesavers to have performed so strongly against the best IRB crews in the country,” said Mr. Schleusener.
“It was a huge amount of work to get crews and boats to northern NSW for the Sharkskin Australian IRB Championships, and I congratulate everyone involved who helped make this happen.”
The Venus Bay SLSC team of Sophie Findlay (driver), Jess Moore (crew), Mae James (patient) and Yuta Taniguchi (patient) competed against 105 teams in the Mass Rescue.
Progressing through four rounds before the final race Venus Bay SLSC competed against the best of seven other teams before leading the thrilling final from start to finish.
Club Secretary Richard Moore said the club was very proud of its winning team and also the broader Venus Bay IRB Racing team, IRB coach Marty McCorriston and the officials from the club that have worked tirelessly at every tournament.
“The Open Women’s Rescue team of Sophie Findlay (driver), Tyla McAleer (driver), Jess Moore (crew), Alice Webb (crew), Declan Woolf (patient) and Rhiannon McCorriston (patient) also won a bronze medal at the Nationals,” said Mr Moore.
“We are incredibly proud of the Venus Bay IRB Racing team who brought home gold in the Women’s Mass Rescue and bronze in the Women’s Teams Rescue,” said Venus Bay SLSC President Kimberley Gee.
“These incredible achievements are the result of unwavering dedication, grit and teamwork, congratulations to all of our competing athletes.
“They represented Venus Bay with pride, passion and heart.”
Venus Bay SLSC contributed six members to the Victorian team for the Interstate Championships which took place on the first day of competition.
Tyla McAleer, Alice Webb, Declan Woolf, Andrew Moore, Jess Moore and Rhiannon McCorriston helped Victoria bring home a bronze medal finishing behind Queensland and New South Wales.
Results ‘Sharkskin’ Australian IRB Championships
Gold - Venus Bay SLSC Open Female Mass Rescue
Bronze - Venus Bay SLSC Open Female Team Rescue