Darwins Mindil Beach to host 2013 Australian IRB Championships

Surf Life Saving Australia, July 17, 2013: Competitors from 29 Surf Life Saving clubs around Australia will go head to head at Mindil beach in Darwin this week for the 2013 Australian Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships.

Undefeated Inter-State winners Queensland will look to defend their title in the Inter-State competition on Thursday (July 18) whilst last year’s National winners, Kurrawa SLSC will attempt to hold onto their reign against the remaining 28 competing clubs in the interclub tournament from Friday (July 19) through Sunday (July 21).

“We have teams from every state and territory, except Tasmania,” said CEO of Surf Life Saving Northern Territory (SLSNT), Tony Snelling.

"The first day will be dedicated to the Interstate Championship and the other three days will be for the National Teams Championship.

"Queensland, NSW and Victoria are traditionally the strongest states and the Kurrawa Club from the Gold Coast are the reigning Club Champions.

"This will be the first time the NT has had female IRB drivers competing, and we are quietly confident they will feature strongly.

In the club competition, lifesavers from Darwin, Mindil Beach and Gove Peninsula clubs have entered.

Now in its eighth year, the purpose of the Inflatable Rescue Boat competition is to improve the skills of IRB drivers and crews in order to improve safety outcomes on Australian beaches which often present challenging conditions.

IRB crews consist of a driver and a crewperson. The objective of the IRB race is to rescue a ‘patient’ or ‘patients’ from the water in the quickest time.

Tony Snelling, is expecting high-quality racing throughout the event.

“IRB racing brings in the best crews from around the country to compete on the water for the national title.

“It’s a dynamic, fast-paced, highly energetic competition and its popularity is rapidly growing meaning the standard of the competition and the quality of the race continues to get better.”

IRBs are known as the ‘work horse’ of the Australian Surf Life Saving movement and play a pivotal role in rescues all around Australia.

The championships will see the country’s best surf lifesavers put their rescue skills to the ultimate test, in the quest to be crowned Australian champions.

The 2013 Australian IRB Championships are taking place from July 18-21 at Mindil Beach in Darwin.

Event Program below:

For more information visit www.sls.com.au/irbchamps

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia...

Ian Hanson

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