Ballito Lifesaving Club Champs

Approximately 30 of Ballito Lifesaving Club members took part in Sunday’s competition, which was the beach events portion of our club champs. The Niplets (members aged 6 and 7) and Nippers (members aged between 8 and 13 years old) took part in a Beach Sprint event, Beach Flags event, Beach Run event, Beach Sports event and tested their knowledge in a Lifesaving Signals and Theory event where each age group was tested against the theory they need to learn to pass their Lifesaving SA Nipper awards.

Competitors and coaches after the morning’s events.

The Junior members (aged 14 and older) competed against each other in a Beach Flags event and then performed two Simulated Rescues-one in which they executed a spinal board rescue and the other in which they executed a torpedo buoy rescue-in very challenging surf conditions.

The club decided to hold this event for their members to give them the opportunity to show their families and friends what they have learnt since joining the club and to give the community an opportunity to see the children in action. A lot of children joined the club recently and have taken to the sport of lifesaving very quickly.

It was also decided to include a Lifesaving Signals and Theory competition as a sound knowledge of the different signals (given both from the land and water) as well as first aid and water safety rules are an important part of grooming a well rounded future lifesaver.

The day rounded off with a tug of war where the members were divided into two teams and each tried their hardest to pull their opponents over the line. Team 2 emerged as the winners, assisted by a few sneaky dads who jumped in to help them out!

This Sunday (25 May) Ballito Lifesaving Club will be moving to uShaka Beach to hold the surf events to complete in club championships. These events will start at 8:30am. The club is also planning some parents races which should prove to be entertaining!

Niplet Theory: Amy du Plessis (hand in the air), Nicola Herbst and Kausar Shaik being questioned by Buddie Lebenon
Spinal Board Rescue: Braden Plekker, Milla Herbst, Riley Plekker, Kate Theunissen, Conrad Plekker and Timothy Sharrock (patient)
Under 10 Boys in their Beach Run event-(L-R): Kristian Muller, Ludwig Herbst, Daniel Brand and Matt Blignaut.

Courtesy of The Bugle