Aussies Continue To Close In on New Zealand at World Lifesaving Championships

MONTPELLIER, France, September 21. TOMORROW’S final day of the National Teams competition at the World Lifesaving Championships in France will go right down to the wire on the back of Australia’s four-gold medal haul on the opening day of beach competition.

The Australians left the pool and arrived at the beach 74 points behind defending champions New Zealand and have clawed their way back and will arrive at Couchant Beach, La Grande Motte, Sunday with the Black Fins still 48 points ahead.

‘If we do catch the Kiwis it will be true testament to the character and spirit of this team – they showed today they are never, ever beaten,” said National Head Coach Danny Short.

“We had some setbacks today but they fought back to win the ‘double-double’ which has kept us in the fight.

“Five-time team veteran Kristyl Smith was the stand out after racing in every women’s event including the beach sprint.

“After finishing second in the board, Kristyl combined with Miranda Bell to win the Rescue Tube Rescue and then with Olympian Naomi Flood to win the rescue board.

“Not finished with that, Kristyl then backed up to finish fourth in the B final of the beach sprint to earn us valuable points and then claim a bronze in the women’s beach relay – she earned her ice bath tonight.

“We are still 48 points behind New Zealand with our favourite day ahead of us including the iron, surf races and Oceanman and Oceanwoman (Taplin) Relays”

“Danny’s double-double gold” came in the Rescue Board and the Rescue Tube Rescue events where the Australians were too fast and too strong with the green and gold caps winning four gold medals back-to-back.

The women’s rescue tube rescue saw an awesome swim by patient Kristyl Smith who was then rescued by Miranda Bell who streeted the field to win comfortably and kick start the Aussie comeback.

Australian captain Shannon Eckstein then put on a fine display of wading to set the race up for Tim Schofield to again win in a close finish with France. Australia proved far too strong for the Kiwis and completed a fine Rescue Tube.

The masterful combination of Smith and Flood then combined again to comprehensively win the board rescue from France and Spain before Eckstein on the board and swimmer Tim Schofield put on a great display to win the board rescue by 100m with daylight second.

This victory completed the rare rescue “double double” for Australia which hasn’t been done since the 2006 World Championships.

Here is a run down of Australia’s results:

  • Kristyl, Smith, Miranda Bell, Naomi Flood and Pam Hendry (1st) Rescue Tube Rescue
  • Shannon Eckstein, Tim Schofield, Ryan Napoleon, Lachlan Tame (1st) Rescue Tube Rescue
  • Kristyl Smith and Naomi Flood (1st) Board Rescue
  • Tim Schofield and Shannon Eckstein (1st) Board Rescue
  • Kristyl Smith (2nd) and Naomi Flood (4th) in the women’s board won by Danielle McKenzie
  • Shannon Eckstein (2nd) and Lachlan Tame (4th) in a single ski final won by noted South African veteran 38-year-old Matt Boumann with Gold Coast-based South African Wade Kreiger third.
  • Melissa Howard (2nd) in the A final and Kristyl Smith (4th) in the B final of the women’s beach sprint
  • Kristyl Smith, Miranda Bell, Naomi Flood, Pam Hendry (3rd) Beach Relay
  • Jake Lynch, Tim Schofield, Shannon Eckstein, Tim Schofield, Lachlan Tame (2nd) B final of the beach relay.

World Record no obstacle for our Chelsea

Meanwhile the Australian Youth Team has celebrated it’s golden march at the World Lifesaving Championships with a stunning world record to Queenslander Chelsea Gillett in the 200m Obstacle Swim on the opening day of the Youth Pool Rescue events at Montpellier.

Brett Dowker’s all-conquering “kids of the future” have continued their amazing performances from two days of beach domination.

Gillett, from the Maroochydore SLSC and Brisbane Life Saving Club, clocked a time of 2:06.11, which is a new Youth World record and a time that would have seen her finish second to Kiwi Commonwealth Games representative Samantha Lee in the Open Division.

Here is a look at the highlights from the Youth Pool Lifesaving events:

  • A quinella in women’s 200M Obstacle Swim – Gold to Chelsea Gillett in a new World Record 2.06.11 & SILVER to Georgia Miller in 2.13.7.
  • Youth Team captain Matt Davis finishes up day one at pool with a win in 100 Manikin tow with fins with Alyssa Koenan taking silver.
  • 4 x 25 Manikin Relays: Bronze to the girls and silver to the boys.
  • BRONZE to men’s line throw. Great skills by Brad Woodward and Nik Green
  • 4 x 50 OBS Relay gold to Australia in both women’s and men’s
  • A thrilling gold to men’s 4×50. OBS Relay-just .15 ahead of Italy. Fantastic effort!!
  • Just 6 minutes after her World Record 200 OBS win Chelsea Gillett joined teammates for another GOLD in 4×50 Obstacle Relay
  • Brad Woodward BRONZE and Nik Green 4th in men’s 200 OBS final.

 

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

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