RESCUE 2012 OFF TO A FLYING START

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RESCUE 2012, Adelaide, November 9, 2012:After two years of planning, sleepless nights, a lot of hard work and training for the organisers, administrators, coaches and competitors, Rescue 2012 – The World Life Saving Championships are off to a flying start in Adelaide.

The three venues – Glenelg and Christies beaches and the South Australia Swimming and Leisure Centre – have already had rave reviews after the first two days of competition which has attracted over 4000 competitors from 42 Nations and over the next week a total of 268 clubs.

Congratulations to the International Life Saving family, Surf Life Saving Australia and the local organising committee for what has already been a wonderful start to Rescue 2012 and we are all set for what will be an exciting finale to the Worlds.

The Opening Ceremony which attracted over 5000 people to the picturesque Glenelg precinct, was an amazing spectacle of colour, featuring lifesavers young and old from almost every corner of the earth.

Everyone who witnessed the spectacle and the injection of history by our indigenous dancers and representatives left with a feeling of great pride.
In the pool we have already see world records to New Zealand and China and a classic display of lifesaving by Shannon Eckstein and his team in the opening Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC).

The Masters also kicked off proceedings at what started out to be a chilly morning at Christies Beach yesterday morning but it didn’t take long for the sun to break through – much to the delight of many of our international visitors.

KIWIS POOL THEIR OLYMPIC TALENT ON DAY TWO AT AQUATIC CENTRE

New Zealand, led by their Olympic swimmers, Andrew McMillan, Steve Kent and Natasha Hind have given the Kiwis a handy lead after the second day of pool competition at the Rescue 2012 World Lifesaving Championships in Adelaide.

The “Black Fins” lead the competition on 187 points from Italy (173), France (132) and Australia (118) with points to be adjusted tomorrow following the points distribution of the final four events and the outcome of a protest in the women’s 4x25 manikin relay which saw the Kiwis disqualified.

In the Youth competition it is Australia on who hold a commanding lead over New Zealand 234 points to New Zealand 206, Spain 185 and Canada 127.

The National Teams Pool Competition concludes tomorrow at the South Australia Swimming and Leisure Centre and moves to the ocean and beach competition at Glenelg on Saturday and Sunday.

World records started to fall in the heats at the pool today and continued in the finals with New Zealand, China and the Italians showing their prowess.

The Kiwi team of Hind, Samantha Lee, Laura Quilter and Ironwoman star Devon Halligan set a new world mark of 1:50.39 in the 4x50m Obstacle Relay final which saw the Dutch team second and the Australians Rebecca Creedy Miranda Bell Pamela Hendy and Kristyl Smith set a new Australian record in third with a time of 1:54.69.

Lee set a world record in the 100m Rescue medley event of 1:11.23 in a Kiwi quinella ahead of Hind and Italy’s Chiara Pidello.

China’s Feng Shi showed his amazing skills and swimming speed to hold off Kiwi pair McMillan and Kent to set a new world mark of 1:53.44 for the 200m freestyle Obstacle swim.

The Chinese team added a further world record in the 4x50m Obstacle relay clocking a time of 1:38.48 ahead of France and New Zealand.

Australian coach Danny Short was full of praise for the Kiwis and the Chinese swimmer Feng Shi who he said produced a world class performance in the 200m Obstacles swim.

“That was amazing to watch and without the obstacles probably equates to around a 1:45.00 200m freestyle swim – which is red hot,” said Short.

“And the Kiwis were always going to be tough today and they showed that in their men’s and women’s teams.

“But the Australians produced some great performances, particularly our girls in the 4x50 Obstacles Relay with Rebecca Creedy Miranda Bell Pamela Hendy and Kristyl Smith doing a great job.

“We always knew today was going to be our toughest day of the competition and although we have some catching up to do tomorrow is a new day.

“Our strength is always going to be on the beach and it will be important to have a solid day tomorrow in the pool and then get ready for the surf and beach events on the weekend.

“Our youth team was outstanding and showed enormous promise and they certainly deserve their lead in the pointscore.”

NO STOPPING THESE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

When it comes to mastering the Masters then Terrigal’s Paul Lemmon and Maroubra’s Darren Schott are in a world of their own and yesterday at Christies Beach it was business as usual as the pair went about showing their wares – and adding world titles to their long list of achievements.

At 45-years young Lemmon is like a Duracel battery who only knows one pace – flat out from the opening gun and he was determined to make the most of his new age group – the bottom end of the 45-49 years division.

The man who has stolen the show at the Aussies over the last decade won the 45-49 years surf race and the Oceanman (World Lifesaving’s equivalent to the Ironman) with an all-the way victory in the ski, board and swim event which saw him beat Craig Chapman of Surfers Paradise and Peter Obern of Freshwater.

The surf race saw Lemmon win the gold from Alexandra Headlands Trent Halliday with Chapman third but it was Schott, the popular Maroubra coach and former South Sydney NRL first grader who prevented Lemmon from a winning trifecta.

The former Australian Taplin Relay and National Inter-State board race champion got the better of his arch rival on the tricky shorebreak to win the gold after showing his ability to win the 45-49 years ski race.

Meanwhile Northcliffe’s popular junior coach and former Australian board paddling legend Gavin Hill has returned home to Adelaide for this week’s World Masters Life Saving Championships and has already struck gold in his favourite event.

Hill, father of Northcliffe Ironman, Cory Hill started out his stellar career with the Grange Surf Club in South Australia and was welcomed back home to Christies Beach with a solid victory in the men’s 50-54 years board final ahead of Byron Bay’s Geoff Brodin with David O’Grady from Avoca Beach third.

But he had to play second fiddle to Byron Bay’s Glen Lawrence in the Oceanman (World Life Saving’s version of the Ironman) with Stuart Whiley from Moana SA third.

There was further success for Northcliffe with Paul Blackbeard winning the 50-54 years surf race and Stephen Fry the 55-59 years surf race.

Of the myriad of internationals who weathered the cold, tricky conditions at Christies Beach was Irish Board paddler, Oisin McGrath who proved he’s just as at home catching waves on his board as he is catching criminals from the skies with the County Clare Life Saver claiming bronze in the 30-34 years board final.

McGrath who plies his trade back home in Dublin as a helicopter pilot for the Irish Army used the opening day of the masters competition as a tune up for the National Teams Ocean Championships starting Saturday.

“I am currently flying for the Dublin Police & there’s always plenty of action with loads of car chases, robberies & intruders,” McGrath explained.

“This was an okay start after being runner up in the board final at the European Championships and finishing tenth in the National teams event back in 2010 so this weekend I am looking for a top eight finish.”

It was the Irishman’s first ever World Championship board medal admitting his love of lifesaving stems from his parents who have been involved in the movement all their lives.

DAY THREE ACTION:
National Teams – South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Heats from 8am; Finals from 3pm
Masters Ocean – Christies Beach – From 8am
Masters Beach – Glenelg Beach – From 4pm

ABOUT RESCUE 2012
Rescue 2012 will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from November 7-18, 2012 and will include five separate competitions - World National Team Championships, World Interclub Championships, World Masters Championships, World Surf Boat Championships, and World Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships.

Rescue 2012 is open to all proficient lifesavers. The Masters competition is open to all proficient lifesavers who are 30 years of age or above.

Athletes can compete in nine separate disciplines - swimming, simulated emergency rescue, Ironman / Ironwoman, surf-ski, board, beach sprints, beach flags, surf boats and IRB.

Beach, National Teams and all IRB events will be held at Glenelg Beach.

Christies Beach will be the home of all Masters, Interclub and Surf Boat events.

The South Australian State Aquatic and Leisure Centre will host all Pool events.

PHOTOS BY Harvpix.com AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

MEDIA ACCREDITATION CLICK HERE

Attention all media who intend covering Rescue 2012, that Media Accreditation is for working media only and accreditation forms MUST be signed off by your editor before accreditation will be processed. A reminder also that Rescue 2012 will have its own official photographer in Harvie Allison (Harvpix.com ) who will distribute to all media outlets. Freelance photographers who are uploading for their own websites WILL NOT be accredited. ONLY photographers working for newspapers and registered agencies will receive accreditation.

Issued on behalf of Rescue 2012.