Surf Life Saving Australia, September 19, 2014: The Australian Life Saving Team will have to turn the clock back six years in its bid to reclaim the coveted World Lifesaving crown from arch rivals New Zealand on Sunday.

LIFESAVING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, RESCUE 2014 (September, 17-21): Antigone Olympic Pool in Montpellier; Le Couchant Beach, La Grande Motte.

After the first two days of the five-day Rescue 2014 World Lifesaving Championships in the south of France, the Kiwis have stolen an 88 point march on the Shannon Eckstein-led Australians with the competition turning to the beach on Saturday and Sunday.

The pointscore stands with New Zealand (424 pts) on top from France (411), Italy (381) Australia (336) and Germany (332).

In 2008 in Germany, the Australians beat the Kiwis on the beach by 110 points, coming back from the dead to snatch the title from a seemingly impossible position and it is going to need that kind of dominance by the Australians to peg back the defending champions when the beach and water events begin at Couchant Beach, La Grande Mott.

Friday’s final event of the pool lifesaving schedule at Montpellier, the SERC (Simulated Emergency Response Competition) will see the Australian team of Eckstein, Andrew Bowden, Christina Ruiz and Pamela Hendry favoured to win their fifth gold from the last five Championships.

It was the French who dominated the pool lifesaving events on day two with a feast of gold medals and world records in one of the most impressive performances in the history of the event with more strong performances from New Zealand stretching their lead over Australia, despite some surprising results from the Aussies in the Line Throw events.

In one of the major upsets of the meet, the Australian team of Tim Schofield (Terrigal SLSC/The Hills Lifesaving Club) and Andrew Bowden (Bronte SLSC/The Hills Life Saving Club) shocked their more fancied European nations to grab the gold medal and a top of the podium finish against Malaysia and Poland in the exciting men’s Line Throw final.

The Aussies clocked a scorching time of 10.28 seconds to earn valuable points in the chase to win this year’s coveted Alan Whelpton Trophy as International Life Saving’s world champion team.

Australia’s women’s team of Christina Ruiz (Northcliffe SLSC/RLSS Qld) and Pamela Hendry (Maroochydore SLSC/RLSS Qld) also added to the medal tally when they claimed the bronze behind New Zealand and the Netherlands in an outstanding performance - the first time ever Australia has won two medals in this event.

But Australian head coach Danny Short believes the gold and bronze medals could well be the “turning point” his team needs to surge back into contention against a formidable Kiwi outfit.

“It just might give us the sniff we need,” said Short, “the boys performance was amazing; the first time we have ever won the Line Throw, an event that’s certainly foreign to us and full marks to Tim Schofield and Andrew Bowden – they had the crowd on their feet – it’s so quick and very exciting.

“And in the girls event, Christina Ruiz nailed her throw first up and the girls came home third for valuable points.”

Short was quick to call an Australian team meeting to muster his troops for a herculean effort.

“We are up for it; they left the pool with their heads held high and we know we have a huge challenge ahead of us but the Kiwis also know we are coming for them,” said Short.

“The team spoke about the comeback in 2008 and Shannon and Kristyl Smith were both part of that and they are itching to get to the beach and we will be ready for any conditions that are tossed up.

“It’s going to be tough but it’s not impossible – we all believe we have the team that can turn this event around and mount some pressure on the Kiwis on day one and fight till the end on day two.”

DOWKER'S DREAM TEAM ALMOST UNSTOPPABLE AT COUCHANT BEACH

Meanwhile Australia’s Youth Team showed almost complete dominance in its opening day of beach competition which saw events delayed because of heavy weather conditions.

But once things cleared up then it was evident that the Brett Dowker coached young Aussies would take some catching.

In 10 events the Australians, with emerging Ironwoman and champion stillwater swimmer Georgia Miller (Newport SLSC) in brilliant form, won seven gold, three silver and one bronze medal.

Miller, who represented the Australian Youth Swim Team along with fellow Life Saving Team member Chelsea Gillett (Maroochydore SLSC/Brisbane Lifesaving) last year, won three gold medals in the individual board final, the board rescue with Prue Davies (Currumbin Beach Vikings/RLSS Qld) and the Rescue Tube Rescue with Gillett, Ela Heiniger (Byron Bay SLSC/Port Hacking Lifeguard Club) and Alyssa Koenen (Northcliffe SLSC).

The Rescue Tube Rescue gold over New Zealand and South Africa gave the Australians five wins from the first five events after what was a great start to the day, that saw Miller and Heiniger take gold and silver in the board final, to set the scene for the young Aussies.

Beach coach Marty Lynch had plenty of reason to smile with the beach team taking home three gold and a silver, the day after his own success to win gold and silver in the World Masters for his beloved Newport.

The next crop of beach flyers, Mooloolaba’s Australian champions Nicole “Special” Kay and Jason Gough both winning their individual finals before the boys team won gold in the beach relay and the girls the silver.

The Aussie boys came through in flying colours in the single ski final with gold to Nik Green (Alexandra Headlands SLSC) and bronze to Josh Brown (Byron Bay SLSC) while Daniel Collins (Redhead SLSC) and Brad Woodward (Shelley Beach SLSC/The Hills Life Saving Club) claimed silver in the boys board rescue and silver in the Rescue Tube Rescue (Green, Brown, Matt Davis Bradley Woodward).

Green showed his skills on the ski, in the Rescue Tube Rescue and on the beach in the winning relay team while Gillett, Heiniger and Davies all showed their versatility to join Kay in the silver medal winning women’s beach relay foursome.

The Youth Team will now prepare for Day Two of the Beach events before two days at the Pool in Montpellier.

Here is a rundown of Australia’s results on Day 2 in the Pool:

Tim Schofield and Andrew Bowden 10.28 (1^st) Line Throw

Christina Ruiz and Pam Hendry 16.58 (3^rd) Line Throw

Pam Hendry, Christina Ruiz, Kristyl Smith, Naomi Flood 1:43.35 (6^th) 4x50m Medley Relay

Andrew Bowden, Ryan Napoleon, Tim Schofield, Shannon Eckstein 1:30.71 (6^th) 4x50m Medley Relay

Pam Hendry 56.04 (6^th), Christina Ruiz 56.31 (7^th) 100m Manikin Carry with Fins

Andrew Bowden 30.76 (6^th), Tim Schofield (7^th) 31.29 50m Manikin Carry

Pam Hendry 39.16 (8^th) 50m Manikin Carry

Miranda Bell 2:38.37 (8^th) 200m Super Lifesaver

OVERALL MEDAL TALLY IN THE POOL: (1 gold; 1 silver; 3 bronze)

GOLD
Tim Schofield, Andrew Bowden - Line Throw

SILVER
Tim Schofield, Andrew Bowden, Shannon Eckstein, Ryan Napoleon – 4x25 Manikin Relay

BRONZE
Naomi Flood – 100m Manikin Tow with Fins
Ryan Napoleon - 200m Obstacle Swim
Christina Ruiz, Pamela Hendry – Line Throw

YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

GOLD (7)
Georgia Miller – Board
Georgia Miller, Prue Davies – Board Rescue
Georgia Miller, Chelsea Gillett, Ela Heiniger, Alyssa Koenen – Rescue Tube Rescue
Jason Gough – Beach Sprint
Nicole Kay – Beach Sprint
Jason Gough, Daniel Collins, Matthew Davis, Nik Green – Men’s Beach Relay
Nik Green – Single ski

SILVER (3)
Daniel Collins, Brad Woodward – Board Rescue
Chelsea Gillett, Ela Heiniger, Nicole Kay, Prue Davies – Women’s Beach Relay
Ela Heiniger – Board

BRONZE (1)
Josh Brown – Single Ski

The Australian Lifesaving Team, World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2014, Montpellier-La Grande-Motte, France, September 13-26, 2014:

Men - Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe SLSC) Captain, Andrew Bowden (Bronte (SLSC/ The Hills Life Saving Club) Jake Lynch (Newport SLSC) Ryan Napoleon (Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Tim Schofield (Terrigal SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club), Lachlan Tame (Avoca Beach SLSC).

Women - Miranda Bell (Northcliffe SLSC), Naomi Flood (Manly LSC), Pamela Hendry (Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving), Melissa Howard (Kurrawa SLSC), Christina Ruiz (Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Kristyl  Smith (Northcliffe SLSC).

Australian Youth Lifesaving Team, World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2014, Montpellier-La Grande-Motte, France, September 13-26, 2014:

Men - Joshua Brown (Byron Bay SLSC), Daniel Collins (Redhead SLSC), Matt Davis (Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Jason Gough (Mooloolaba SLSC), Nik Green (Alexandra Headlands SLSC), Brad Woodward (Shelley Beach SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club).

Women - Prue Davies (Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Chelsea Gillett (Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving), Ela Heiniger (Byron Bay SLSC / Port Hacking Lifeguard Club), Nicole Kay (Mooloolaba SLSC), Alyssa Koenan (Northcliffe SLSC),  Georgia Miller (Newport SLSC).

Team Management and Traveling Staff: Head Coach: Danny Short (Maroochydore SLSC), Team Manager: Keith Caldwell (Bulli SLSC), Assistant Coach: Wade Sinclair (Picnic Bay SLSC), Physiotherapy: Nick Marshall (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC), Sport Science/ Assistant Manager: Elise Bateman. Beach Coach: Martin Lynch (Newport SLSC)

Australian Youth Lifesaving Team Management: Head Coach: Brett Dowker (Currumbin SLSC), Team Manager: Garry Mensforth (Umina SLSC), Assistant Coach: Craig Holden (Elliot Heads SLSC), Physiotherapy: Troy Eady (Byron Bay SLSC), Beach Coach: Martin Lynch (Newport SLSC).

Travelling staff members:  Kitty Chiller – SLSA GM Capacity & Capability (Female Athlete Liaison – Australian Youth Lifesaving Team), Nathan Hight – SLSA Sport Manager (CEO’s Representative, Australian Lifesaving Team and Youth Lifesaving Team.

PROGRAM DAYS REMAINING– Open and Youth

Friday, September 19:

OPEN (Pool, SERC)

YOUTH (Beach, Day 1)

Saturday, September 20:

OPEN (Beach, Day 1)

YOUTH (Pool, Day 1)

Sunday, September 21:

OPEN (Beach, Day 2)

YOUTH (Pool, Day 2).

Social media (hashtags/twitter/websites):

#rescue2014 (event)

#pridemateshippassion (Team)

@AUSlifesaving

@SLS_Online

@royallifesaving

@Ausport

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Life-Saving-Team/370689553031410YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AusLifeSavingTeam
www.rescue2014.fr (official website and location of results)
www.sls.com.auhttp://www.royallifesaving.com.au/

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager, 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team
Deputy Media Manager 2016 Australian Olympic Team
Media Manager 2014 Pan Pacs

Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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