By Matthew Sims
A number of Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club (WSLSC) junior members emerged victorious Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) Victorian Junior Championships.
Under-13 competitors Noah Chapple and Mahli McCarroll received the honour of being named the overall water and beach champions.
Running from Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12 at the Warrnambool Surf Livesaving Club, the Victorian Junior Championships marked the end of Victoria’s summer lifesaving season.
LSV senior sport manager Chris Schleusener said he congratulated WSLSC and Altona Life Saving Club (LSC) for their efforts during the weekend.
“Our nippers are the future of our volunteer lifesaving force and to see such an incredible display of skill and teamwork shows that the future of lifesaving in Hobsons Bay is bright,” he said.
“From the traditional march past and belt and reel disciplines showing lifesaving’s proud history, to the rescue ready board paddling and surf swimming, lifesaving sport is full of exciting disciplines, all combined with the community mindset of comradery between teams and clubs.
WSLSC’s results included:
* Noah Chapple – first place in the under-13 ironman, under-13 boys’ board race and under-13 boys’ surf race;
* Noah Chapple and Finn McNamara (Williamstown) – second place in the under-13 boys’ belt and reel;
* Mabel Hanrahan and Ava O’Toole (Williamstown) – second place in the under-13 girls’ belt and reel;
* Mahli McCarroll – first place in the under-13 girls’ beach flags and second place in the under-13 girls’ board race;
* Madigan Carroll, Mabel Hanrahan, Mahli McCarroll and Ava O’Toole – first place in the under-13 girls’ beach relay;
* Zara Pretorius – second place in the under-9 girls’ board race; and
* Noah Chapple, Benjamin Glover, Mabel Hanrahan, Pippa Killeen, Georgia Loutakis, Mahli McCarroll, Yianni Nicolaou, Ava O’Toole, Layla Pretorius, Mieke Pretorius, Francesca Robinson, Estee Rossow, Sophie Sonego, Aiden Wright – third place in the junior mixed march past.
