KURRAWA TAKE OVER AS STATE’S TOP IRB CLUB
KURRAWA have emerged as the club most likely to end a decade-long dominance of inflatable rescue boat competition by North Burleigh.
A new-look North Burleigh combination had to play second fiddle to Coast rivals Kurrawa and Broadbeach at the Queensland titles held at Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast.
In perfect beach breaks, Kawana emerged as overall winners with 68 points, ahead of Broadbeach on 57 with multiple national champions North Burleigh third with 49.
Kirra (37) and Point Lookout (32) rounded out the top five, with Alexandra Headland (sixth) and Kawana Waters (seventh) the best-placed Sunshine Coast teams.
In total, the high-octane IRB championships attracted more than 300 lifesavers from 19 clubs across the state for two days of fast and furious action.
SLSQ sports manager Stuart Hogben said it had been a tough event, with many races going down to the wire.
“The racing conditions were quite tough across the days and really tested the skills of our competitors.
“But that’s exactly what they train for.
“The Queensland championships are one of our premier events and bring together the best of the best from across the state when it comes to IRB racing, so we knew the racing was going to be hard and fast.
“At the end of the day though, this event is all about reinforcing and refining some of the core lifesaving skills that we teach our patrolling members.
“The skills on show are the same that will be used to protect swimmers and save lives over the summer months.”
The national titles at Kingscliff in a fortnight are next up for the IRB racers.