Auckland Council lifeguards are NZ champs – again!

23 August 2012

Auckland Council lifeguards are NZ champs – again!

Auckland Council’s regional lifeguard team has blitzed the national pool lifeguard championships for the second year in a row.

The team of lifeguards, from council-run leisure centres, last week took out top honours at the National Pool Lifeguard Competition held at Lloyd Elsmore Leisure Centre in Pakuranga.

North Shore Leisure manager Kay Lawry says this is a major achievement for the council team and an accomplishment the public pool provider can be proud of.

“What an honour for our lifeguards to again take out this prestigious industry award. The team has demonstrated skill and dedication, earning them national recognition as outstanding pool lifeguards.

“This is a tough competition where we go up against the best teams from around the country,” she says.

Team members Ricky Thomson, Megan Ramsay, Ryan Ford (North Shore Leisure) and Sean Teaukura (Manukau Leisure) joined four other teams from around New Zealand competing for the title.

The national win comes hot on the heels of the North Shore Leisure lifeguard team taking out the regional title for the fourth year in a row and was contested by teams from Auckland and Northland.

The victorious North Shore Leisure team included Megan Ramsay, Ryan Ford, Dominic Forsythe and Ricky Thomson, who together have more than 21 years of lifeguarding experience.

“We are extremely proud that North Shore Leisure consistently meets our industry’s high professional standards. We’re delighted to see Ricky, Megan and Ryan go on to compete at national level,” says Ms Lawry.

A key contribution to the success of North Shore Leisure team, for the past three years, is the commitment and mentoring of coach Joanne Wilson, North Shore Leisure Aquatic Supervisor.

About the national competition
• The New Zealand National Lifeguard Competition is part of the annual Just Add Water Seminar (JAWS) and National Aquatics Conference, held by the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA).

• The Auckland team competed against teams from the Freyberg Pool and Fitness Centre (Wellington), Mainlands (Manawatu), Central (Waikato/Bay of Plenty) and Whangarei (Northland).

• The competition tested lifeguarding industry knowledge and water quality in a theory section; the scenario component tested health and safety aspects of their work; and the physical aspect saw the teams hit the water to compete in a 25 metre sprint relay, 25 metre manikin tow relay, throw rope relay and 200 metre mixed relay. Each race tested the skill and experience of lifeguards in the areas of rescue techniques and response to pool rescue incidents.

ENDS

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