AUSTRALIAN INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS HIT PENGUIN THIS WEEKEND

April 14: Some of the country's best surf lifesavers will put their rescue skills to the ultimate test this weekend at the Australian Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships in Penguin, Tasmania.

This is the first time the competition has headed to Tasmania since being reintroduced in 2005.

Competition will kick start on Friday 16 April with the Interstate Championships which will see the top crews each state go head to head.  The first day of the Australian IRB Championships will kick start on Saturday, with finals to be held on Sunday.

With more than 500 competitors from 35 clubs across Australia set to take to the line, Surf Life Saving Australia's Director of Surf Sports, Dave Thompson, said the competition is expected to be tough.

"The Australian IRB Championships are a great way for our surf lifesavers to test and refine their IRB racing skills.

"The best IRB crews in the country will be competing this weekend and we're expecting the racing to be hotly contested," he said

Reigning champions Kurrawa (Gold Coast) are set to come up against hot competition from rivals North Burleigh (Gold Coast) and the ever consistent Point Lookout team. 

Other clubs to look out for include New South Wales' Thirroul and Kiama Downs clubs, Scorboro and Freemantle from Western Australia, Port Noarlunga and South Port clubs from South Australia, with Williamstown and Anglesea set to lead the charge for Victoria.

The locals will be looking to use their home state advantage to the maximum, with Boat Harbour Beach, Clifton Beach and Burnie ready to fly the flag for Tasmania.

IRBs, known as the ‘work horse' of the Australian Surf Life Saving movement, play a pivotal role in rescues all around Australia. The worth of these craft and the surf lifesavers who drive them are invaluable to surf lifesaving in Australia.