DEV LEADS NORTHCLIFFES TRIO OF GOLD

Posted in Other News

DOWNLAOD interclub youth partial results

RESCUE 2012, Adelaide, November 15, 2012: Northcliffe’s Dev Lahey overcame a nervous wait to realise his finest moment in surf sports when his long legs carried him to victory in the World surf race final at Christies Beach yesterday afternoon, while team mates Kristyl and Eliza Smith added gold in the women’s open and youth surf race titles.

Millpond conditions and an out-going tide ensured an 80 metre sandbank sprint greeted the 32-strong final fields that lined up for the first major open final at the Rescue 2012 World Life Saving Championships – right up Lahey’s alley and a determined Kristyl Smith added her third women’s surf race crown, holding off Manly’s New Zealand star Devon Halligan and her fellow Northcliffe team mate and Ironwoman Courtney Hancock.

It was Eliza Smith who had three years away from the sport and moved to Northcliffe from Swansea Belmont who came back to win her first title in the Youth surf race.

But the day belonged to Lahey, the 1.96m tall Australian Open Surf belt champion who sat nervously waiting for the final after cruising through his heat and semi, before giving what many keen observers agreed was one of the finest displays of wading ever seen.

Lahey put 10 metres on a field that included International Surf Race winner and Ironman great Shannon Eckstein, established Ironman Matt Poole, Italy’s Alessandro Cuoghi, semi-final winner Tom O’Keefe from Elouera and South African open water Olympian Chad Ho.

Eckstein then mowed Lahey down and swam passed his Northcliffe team mate on the helter-skelter race back to the sandbank before another 40 metre run to the finish.

And it was Eckstein who stood up first and headed north to the shallower water with Lahey in hot pursuit behind him.

Lahey then made a conscious decision to change direction and ran inside Eckstein, backing himself to wade through deeper water.

The move paid off and within six strides Lahey had what was a long-awaited final sewn up, with Eckstein recovering from a stumble to finish second with Poole third.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous before a race in my life, knowing it was my kind of conditions,” said Lahey who’s best result in five Australian surf race finals has been fifth.

“I knew I had to stay on my feet for as long as I could and just try and hang on and back myself coming home. There’s no doubt that win is the highlight of my career.”

Meanwhile the Youth title went to Bulli’s Beau Wheeler, who also backed himself on the swim to shore, showing outstanding skills to beat Daniel Booth (Northcliffe, QLD) with Benjamin Zuill (West Beach, SA) third.

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.