Venus Bay lifesavers win at Sharkskin Australian IRB Championships

VENUS Bay’s Tyla McAlear, Alice Webb and Tara Scott helped bring home three wins for Victoria at the Sharkskin Australian and Interstate Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships held on the Gold Coast over the weekend. 

They were among the 16 Victorian lifesavers who teamed up to win the Open Mixed relay at the event.

Ms McAlear and Ms Webb were part of the five-person Victorian team that won the Open Female Teams Rescue, while Ms McAlear was also in the three-person team that took their craft to victory in the Open Female Tube Rescue

Their efforts helped propel Victoria to second overall in the national competition with 26 points, just two points behind victors Queensland on 28.

Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRB) are a key part of our lifesaving clubs’ rescue capability that keeps our community safe in the water. 

The Australian championships are an opportunity for our volunteer lifesavers to showcase their impressive capabilities with these small and fast watercrafts and keep rescue-ready for the summer volunteer patrol season. 

Life Saving Victoria Senior Manager – Aquatic Sport Chris Schleusener congratulated and thanked everyone for making the event such a success. 

“It was an incredible effort by all of our Victorian clubs to take part in the Australian and Interstate IRB Championships, with competitors driving more than 1500km to get their boats and themselves to the start line,” he said. 

“Congratulations to all competitors for doing your clubs and your state proud and thank you to everyone who supported this major effort to be part of this event.”