TASMANIA SECURES 2010 AUSTRALIAN IRB CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 16: Penguin Surf Life Saving Club in Tasmania has successfully secured the rights to host the 2010 Australian IRB Championships which will take place from 17-18 April 2010.

The Australian IRB Championships is one of Surf Life Saving Australia's key national sporting events and one designed to improve the lifesaving and rescue skills of Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) drivers and crews.  The event is expected to attract hundreds of Australia's top surf lifesavers from around the country.

Surf Life Saving Australia's General Manager of Surf Sports, Grant Baldock says Penguin SLSC will provide a challenging and unique venue for the Australian IRB Championships.

"We are pleased to be taking one of our national sporting events to Tasmania and I believe that Penguin SLSC will provide a great venue for the competition in 2010," said Baldock.

"This will be the first time that Tasmania has had the opportunity to host the Australian IRB Championships.

"Since re-introducing IRB racing back in 2005 we have seen more clubs and surf lifesavers getting involved and the level of competition is continuing to grow each year.

"IRB competition forms an important part of the surf sports calendar as it is provides our surf lifesavers with the opportunity to refine their skills which in turn help us keep our beaches safer," he said.

Surf Life Saving Tasmania's General Manager, Tony van den Enden says the event is a great opportunity to showcase surf lifesaving in Tasmania and grow community awareness. 

Tasmanian has not hosted a national event since the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships were held at Clifton Beach in 1983.