Ireland's top Lifeguards will compete at Irish Water Safety's National Surf Lifesaving Championships at Rossnowlagh Beach, Donegal from 9am to 5pm, Saturday 12th and from 10am-12noon, Sunday 13th Sept. Over six hundred competitors from thirteen counties will compete, representing Wicklow, Kildare, Clare, Donegal, Wexford, Cork, Waterford, Mayo, Galway, Louth, Kilkenny, Sligo. A team of Lifesavers from Belfast will also compete.
Competitors at the National Championships will have their skills tested in events that simulate emergency rescue and swimming scenarios. Teams will fend off strong competition from the fittest Lifeguards nationwide in this gala of lifesaving - the most significant and breathtaking life saving competition in Ireland. Irelands best Lifesavers will contend with the challenging open water conditions on the Donegal coast to rescue potential "casualties" in testing swim races, rescue board races and other events, which culminate in exciting finals throughout the day.
Commenting on the additional challenges of open water competitions, the Chairman of Irish Water Safety's Sports Commission, Jim Lawlor is confident of the team's readiness for the challenge. "Athletes will not only compete with each other while carrying their life saving equipment but also with the open water conditions of Rossnowlagh Beach. Conditions around Ireland's coast are ideal training waters for the teams as they vie for National Championship medals."
The Sport of Lifesaving has been developed to improve the standard of life guarding in Ireland and assist lifesavers save lives. The skills they have honed will be demonstrated by Lifesavers as young as nine years of age (Nippers) with the more experienced Junior, Senior and Masters Lifeguards demonstrating their lifesaving skills that can be such an important lifeline in an emergency.
As part of its remit to promote water safety in Ireland, Irish Water Safety trains Lifeguards employed at beaches, lakes, rivers and pools nationwide. Irish Water Safety encourages the public to learn to swim and enroll in one of the many courses nationwide in the valuable skills of water survival and lifesaving. Further information on this exciting event is available at www.iws.ie.
Take your family down to these Championships and enjoy a festival of lifesaving that may very well encourage you or a member of your family to learn these lifesaving skills.
