By Matthew Sims
Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club representatives beat out the competition at every turn at the Australian Inflatable IRB championships from Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24.
The club was at the top of the podium and third place in the open men’s mass rescue, while the master’s women’s rescue team came third.
The club’s results from the Australian championships included:
* 1st place – open men’s mass rescue – Alastair Thomas, Calum Dickson, Jasmine Happ and Talia Rodder;
* 3rd place – open men’s mass rescue – Christian Aquila, Shaun Leith, Brydie Logan and Sarah Meehan;
* 3rd place – masters women’s rescue – Sarah Meehan, Talia Rodder and Ann Renda;
* 4th place – open men’s teams rescue – Calum Dickson, Alastair Thomas, Christian Aquila, Shaun Leith, Jasmine Happ and Brydie Logan; and
* 5th place – open men’s rescue – Christian Aquila, Shaun Leith and Brydie Logan.
In the interstate championships, a number of Williamstown club members represented Victoria in the championships.
Williamstown club members’ results in the interstate championships included:
* 1st place – men’s rescue open state team – Calum Dickson and Alastair Thomas;
* 3rd place – men’s mass rescue open state team – Christian Aquila and Shaun Leith;
* 3rd place – men’s team rescue open state team – Christian Aquila, Shaun Leith, Calum Dickson and Alastair Thomas; and
* 5th place – men’s team rescue under 23 team – Brydie Logan.
Overall, Victoria finished second on the leaderboard in the interstate championships.
Club president Claire Howell said the club’s performance in both of the championships was “absolutely brilliant”.
“They do so much work in the background,” she said.
Life Saving Victoria education, sport and club development general manager Kate Simpson said the championships allowed competitors to hone their rescue-ready skills into a challenging environment.
“To see Williamstown finish with three podium finishes and seven members selected in our state and development squads is fantastic,” she said.
