IRANIAN OLYMPIC SPRINTER STEALS THE SHOW AT GLENELG

Posted in Other News

RESCUE 2012, Adelaide, November 11, 2012: While the major focus for local fans on Glenelg Beach for Rescue 2012 is the ding dong battle between Australia and New Zealand for major National Teams honours, a 25-year-old Iranian Olympian created International Life Saving history yesterday afternoon.

Reza Ghasemi hails from Isfahan, the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran – Iran’s third largest city with a population of 1.5 million people.

Running in an Iranian National team water polo cap Reza was the talk of the beach after the heats of the open beach sprint when he showed speed to burn and he quickly became the man to beat in the final.

Little did many people know that Reza actually ran in the 100 metres at this year’s London Olympics – clocking 10.31, to finish fourth in his heat won by Jamaican legend Asafa Powell and has a PB of 10.24.

And that’s just what he did, winning Iran’s first ever international lifesaving gold medal to beat Australia’s Tom Nolan with Gold Coast-based Kiwi Paul Cracroft-Wilson taking the bronze.

And with a vocal Iranian support crew cheering wildly, Reza was quickly rushed off to prepare for the men’s open beach relay final and the Iranians didn’t disappoint taking the gold from New Zealand and Great Britain.

“He’s already a hero back home and this will only add to his profile and the profile of surf lifesaving in Iran,” said a team spokesman.

He may only stand at 1.79m but this pocket rocket from Iran can run like the wind.

Meanwhile the New Zealand Black Fins have taken a commanding lead of 97 points over Australia going into the final day of the National Teams competition.

Buoyed by their stirring performances in the pool over the three days of competition at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, the Kiwis and the Aussies locked horns in typical Trans Tasman fashion when the competition moved to the beach.

And with one day remaining New Zealand leads on 573 points from Australia 476.

The Australians drew early points with Kristyl Smith winning the women’s board final, Miranda Bell the open women’s surf race and a Shannon Eckstein and Hugh Dougherty quinella in the men’s single ski.

Eckstein and Dougherty showed their dominance in what was one of the best finishes of the day with the Australian team captain picking the best line back to the beach, to hold off Dougherty, New Zealand Olympic kayaker Steven Ferguson and South Africa’s Jayden Alford-Loots.

But the Kiwis were always in hot pursuit, picking up consistent points in almost every final until two stirring victories, first to Nikki Cox and Devon Halligan in the women’s board rescue over Smith and Rebecca Creedy and then to Max Beattie and Kevin Morrison, who caused a major upset in the men’s board rescue.

In what was one of the most exciting finishes of the day Beattie and Morrison held off the fast finishing Eckstein and Dougherty after Eckstein swam off course on the swim, which saw Dougherty leave the beach in last place.

But in a never-say-die paddle the Aussies passed all but the Kiwis in a frantic finish which saw the New Zealanders celebrate wildly, knowing it could well spell victory for the first time since 1998.

Smith and Jordan Mercer both struck gold in the opening two board race finals with Smith, the Australian women’s captain using all of her experience to master the long tricky conditions, gaining an edge on the field when she chased a runner around the turning buoys to gain what turned out to be a winning lead.

She put her head down and paddled straight towards the finishing arch with New Zealand pair Nikki Cox and Devon Halligan in hot pursuit.

But as hard as they tried the determined Kiwis couldn’t reel Smith in.

“It’s always nice to come away with a win. It is really quite tricky out there and you have to rely on your surf skills and I picked up a runner at the back of the cans which certainly helped,” said Smith.

Smith’s Australian team mate, National Ironwoman champion and former Commonwealth Games swimmer Rebecca Creedy was a close up fourth behind Cox and Halligan.

Mercer, the World Ocean Paddleboard champion, also reveled in the conditions to easily win the Youth final ahead of Kiwi Danielle McKenzie with Australia’s Jessica Collins third.

“The New Zealanders had a blinder in the pool and they are going to be tough to peg back but all we can do is our best and put each race together perfectly,” said Smith.
RESCUE 2012 WORLD LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS, GLENELG BEACH, SA, FINALS

INTERNATIONAL OPEN TEAMS

MEN

Open Beach Sprint Reza Ghasemi (IRI) Thomas Nolan (AUS) Ramy Hussein (EGY)Beach Relay Iran New Zealand Great Britain Open Single Ski Shannon Eskstien (AUS) Hugh Dougherty(AUS) Steven Ferguson (NZ) Open Board Rescue New Zealand Australia South Africa

WOMEN

Open Beach Sprint Melissa Howard (AUS) Mandi Maritz (RSA) Chanel Hickman (NZ) Beach Relay Iran New Zealand Great Britain Surf Board Kristyl Smith (AUS) Nikki Cox (NZ) D Halligan (NZ) Surf Board Rescue New Zealand Australia South Africa Surf Race Miranda Bell (AUS) Devon Halligan (NZ) Natasha Hind (NZ)

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TEAM

MEN

Youth Beach Sprint Jordan Caldow (AUS) Toby Harris (NZ) Androns Hanson (NOR) Beach Relay Australia New Zealand Japan Single Surf Ski Cory Taylor (NZ) Sam Shergold (NZ) Jack Waddell (AUS) Surf Board Cory Taylor (NZ) Sam Shergold (NZ) Jack Waddell (AUS) Surf Race Chris Dawson (NZ) Keelan Bridge (AUS) Bernard Cahill (IRE)

WOMEN

Youth Beach Sprint Bree Masters (AUS) Emily Hodges (NZ) Karina Radley (NZ) Relay Australia New Zealand Spain Surf Board Jordan Mercer (AUS) Daniele McKenzie (NZ) Jessica Collins (AUS) Surf Race Mariah Jones (AUS) Carina Doyle (NZ) Margot Cunningham (CAN) Surf Board Rescue Australia New Zealand Japan

MASTERS BEACH RESULTS

MEN

30 – 34 years 2KM Beach Run C Burton O McGrath2 (Co Clare IRE) S Thompson (Glenelg) Beach Flags S Vickers (Umhlanga Rocks S A) C Fitzgerald 2 (Co Clare IRE) A Bell (Sorrento)

35 – 39 years 2KM Beach Run M Gibbs (Avoca Beach) J Maillo (Gasad ESP) A Carroll (Bronte) Beach Flags W Holroyd (Umhlanga Rocks SA) W Alcock (Caves Beach) A Kelckhoven (North Burleigh)

40 – 44 years 2KM Beach Run C Busse (Manly LSC) M Varney (West Beach) J Tucker (Ocean Beach) Beach Flags A Buls (Ellis Beach) R Hoffman (Kurrawa) M MacDonald (Spencer Park)

45 – 49 years 2KM Beach Run D Minns (Apollo Bay) G Matthews (Umina) M Talbot (West Beach) Beach Flags D Brenen (Grange) A Mills (Cudgen Headland) P Wyper (Coolangatta)

50 – 54 years 2KM Beach Run D Brukmann (Cronulla) P Crate (Moana) R Ryan (Shellharbour) Beach Flags P Tubby (Killcare) P Brady (Dixon Park) M Ashfield (Alexandra Headlands)

55 – 59 years 2KM Beach Run M Clarence (Swansea Belmont) L McDowell (Collaroy) H Porter (Queenscliff) Beach Flags D Morris (Umhlanga Rocks SA) A Sheppard (Black Rock LSC) S Kirby (Toowoon Bay)

60 – 64 years 1KM Beach Run M Barrand (Wye River) J Desfosses (Scarborough) W Lloyd (Cronulla) Beach Flags M Lynch (Newport) R Wilson (Queenscliff) T Smithies (Newport)

65 years and over 1KM Beach Run P Hennessy (Tacking Point) D Glover (Shellharbour) D Wakefield (Fish Hoek SA) Beach Flags P Hammond (Queenscliff) M Murphy (South Maroubra) M Freake (Fairhaven)

WOMEN

30 -34 years 2KM Beach Run R McNiven (Coogee) G Davies (Anglesea) B Peres (Cornwall GBR)Beach Flags D Strauss (Coledale) K Lindal (Sweden Masters SWE) L Lewis (Henley)

35 – 39 years 2KM Beach Run C Sutcliffe (St- Laurent CAN) L Myatt (Port Noarlurga) T Benjamin (Alexandra Headland) Beach Flags B Lee (Forster) M Hofer (Killcare) C Donaldson (Kurrawa)

40 – 44 years 2KM Beach Run H Murray (Byron Bay) J Aylward (Black Rock LSC) L Nugent (Arcadian)Beach Flags K Stewart (Queenscliff) L Nugent (Arcadian) K Robinson (Killcare)

45 – 49 years 2KM Beach Run M Pearson (Long Reef) J Cole (Mount Martha LSC) J Colja (Cudgen Headland) Beach Flags K Norris (Windang) B Towle (Port Macquarie) W Sierp (Alexandra Headlands)

50 – 54 years 2KM Beach Run S Geyer (DLRG Bietigheim-Bissingen GER) B Zurcher (DLRG Bietigheim-Bissingen GER) P Andrews (Chelsea Longbeach) Beach Flags B Kemp (Grange) J Jowett (North Avoca) C Devine (Woolacombe)

55 – 59 years 2KM Beach Run M Clarence (Swansea Belmont) L McDowell (Collaroy) H Porter (Queenscliff) Beach Flags A McPhee (Dicky Beach) J Shanahan (Mount Martha LSC) L McDowell (Collaroy)

60 – 64 years 1KM Beach Run L Smallwood (Collaroy) S Reilly (Anglesea) P Powell (Pacific Palms) Beach Flags J Rowse (Sorrento) S Reilly (Anglesea) P Powell (Pacific Palms)

65 years and Over 1KM Beach Run J Silom (Chelsea Longbeach) D Schleupen (DLRG Bietigheim- Bissingen GER) W Coghill (Maroochydore) Beach Flags C Nicholls (Kurrawa) L Gielis (Cudgen Headland) J Silom (Chelsea Longbeach)
MASTERS BOARD RESCUE RESULTS

MEN

30 – 34 years Board Rescue Bronte Avoca Co Clare (IRE)

35 – 39 years Board Rescue Surfers Paradise Wollongong Coolangatta

40 – 44 years Board Rescue Manly LSC Anglesea Brighton

45 – 49 years Board Rescue Alexandra Headland Maroubra Freshwater

50 – 54 years Board Rescue Byron Bay Half Moon Bay Northcliffe

55 – 59 years Board Rescue Northcliffe Wanda Maroubra

60 – 64 years Board Rescue Trigg Island Cottesloe Fairy Meadow

65 years and over Board Rescue Brighton Alexandra Headland Aldinga Bay

WOMEN

30 – 34 years Board Rescue Port Noarlunga Alexandra Headland Manly LSC

35 – 39 years Board Rescue Maroubra Port Noarlunga Umina

40 – 44 years Board Rescue Mount Martha LSC Byron Bay Alexandra Headland

45 – 49 years Board Rescue Manly LSC Northcliffe Noosa Heads

50 – 54 years Board Rescue Avalon Beach Palm Beach Mount Martha LSC

55 – 59 years Board Rescue – No Starters

60 – 64 years Board Rescue Bronte Kurrawa

SUNDAY ACTION:
National Team – Ocean events from 9am Finals from 2pm
Masters Pool Competition – 8am at SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre
IRB Championships – From 9am at Glenelg
Long Distance Ski Race – Leaving Christies to Glenelg (from 2pm)

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.