DEDICATED local Masters lifesavers and their junior colleagues have been making big waves at a major international swimming event where they achieved a string of top times.
The swimmers, from the St John Berchman’s Lifeguard Club in Cabra, proved to be amongst the best in Britain and Ireland at the prestigious RLSS international open speed championships held recently at the Ponds Forge International 50-metre pool in Sheffield.
Swimming and life saving clubs from England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and Ireland took part in the championships that bring together the best and fastest volunteer lifesavers.
Over 40 competitors from the lifesaving section of the Northside based club took part in the event, which was organised by the RLSS, an international charity dedicated to safeguarding lives in, on or near water.
Winners of medals included Gavin Callender and David Browne (rescue rope throw) and with teammates Paddy and Patricia Kelly successfully defended their title in the rope team relay event.
In the Obstacle relay (the swimming equivalent of hurdles in athletics) the two masters teams (Aine Galvin, Mary Lowry, Patricia Kelly and Barbara Smyth; David Browne, Paddy Kelly, Ciara Kavanagh and Gavin Callender) took first and second place overall.
In the individual disciplines, medals went to David Browne and Mary Lowry in the 100-metre manikin towing events.
St John Berchman’s Lifeguard Club Director of Swimming, Sheila Mulhair, praised the local team on their success.
“This was one of our best performances at the international speed championships and everyone was elated,” she said.
“It was amazing to see them do so well, with over 40 personal bests recorded.
“The Sheffield event brings together the best young lifesavers, and there were teams from Ireland, England and Scotland and Wales. It was a great chance to show other clubs what we can do.”