Bright future ahead for Sligo Surflifesaving Club
‘THE Sligo Surflifesaving Nipper and Junior openwater season came to a conclusion recently following the Irish Water Safety National Openwater Championships held in Currlacloe, Co. Wexford.
The Sligo Surflifesavers put in a stellar performance across all categories against a highly competitive field, which saw the very best surflifesavers from across the country come together, having qualified from regional events, to test their surflifesaving skills and abilities against one another.
Surflifesaving has its’ origins in Australia and represents the sports division of Irish Water Safety. Its’ aim to promote and enhance the skillset to be a lifeguard and lifesaver in a sporting competitive context whilst raising awareness surrounding water safety.
Participants in the openwater season compete across a variety of water and beach based events including board and swim races, beach sprints, board and tube rescues to test their lifesaving abilities against the very best in the country.
The Nippers and Juniors held their own and did their club and county proud against some very strong competition from other counties around the country with the Nippers enjoying a large number of top 10 finishes and medal winners including national titles in the openwater swim category for Matthew O’Grady, in flags and beach sprints for Oisin Choo and beach sprints for Ronan O’Connor. In addition there were a number of silver and bronze medals across a variety of events for a number of competitors.
The Juniors/ Youths performed strongly at both the regional and national competitions with a number of top 10 finishes and strong individual performances.
Sligo Water Safety/ Surflifesaving had the privilege of hosting the Irish Water Safety Connacht/ Ulster Regional Openwater Cham- pionships at Enniscrone, Co. Sligo welcoming competitors from Donegal, Mayo and Galway who had to qualify from the regionals to compete at the nationals.
The event was very well supported by the competitors, spectators and the local community. Sligo Water Safety/ Surflifesaving Club would like to extend its gratitude to all competitors, teams, spectators, volunteers, organisers and the community of Enniscrone for making it a true success.
Particular thanks is extended to Sherry Fitzgerald Draper, Total Produce, Vincent Kelly, Andrew and Jim Carnegie, Call of the Wild, Shelia Ryan, The Draft House, 5th on Teeling, Stanley Hunter and Donal O’Connor for their ongoing support, sponsorship, time and effort in contributing towards the ongoing success of Sligo Water Safety/ Sligo surflifesaving.
Attention now turns to the Senior and Master surflifesavers who are training hard and will compete at the upcoming Irish Water Safety Senior and Master Openwater National Championships to be held in Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal on the 23rd September 2017.
Sligo Water Safety/ Surflifesaving would also like to wish the very best to Sligo Surflifesaver Joseph Mooney who has been selected to represent Ireland and is competing at the European Lifesaving Championships 2017. You can follow the action at http:// www.lifesaving2017.be/ or if you want to keep informed about local surflifesaving and water safety events be sure to log onto https:// sligowatersafety.com/