Competitions                                                                                              scroll down to view more reports

 

Summer Twilight’s 2006.                                                              report by Em Ayres
This year was another successful year for Poole.  We came 3rd overall, with the men's and ladies both coming 3rd to Boscombe and Branksome.  Our juniors had a slightly better result coming 2nd to Branksome and beating Boscombe by about 90 points.

Throughout the summer many of our members and competitors were able to improve upon previous year's results in both the wet and dry events.  Some improved marginally while others improved by miles!

This was the first year that the hosting club had to organise and run the Twilight, and as with any first time event there are a few hiccups, but these were resolved fairly easily without many interruptions to the evenings events.  We hosted and ran a successful Twilight in August, with all competitors enjoying themselves.

This year also saw more of our younger members coming along and taking part in the Twilights.  For some this was the first time they would've been to any of the local competitions, and they found it to be interesting, fun and enjoyable! Hopefully next year we'll be able to encourage more of our younger members to come along to both the pool and beach competitions throughout next year.

Another first for the club this year was the participation in the Team Twilight at Boscombe.  Although we didn't have any kit, and we were a team member short, but we were able to gain a few valuable points from the events we entered.  Next year we'll be more prepared and hopefully we'll do
better!!
 

Indoor Twilight’s 2006.                                                            report by Em Ayres
The Indoor Twilight’s were interesting this year.  The first twilight was held at Poole, with a great turn out from our juniors, and the senior teams did well, with a team entered from Dorset Police. 

The second twilight wasn’t as fully attended by the clubs as previous twilight’s have been.  There was a threat to stop the indoor twilights altogether, if people weren’t going to be entering. 

The third twilight was held at Stokewood Road, in March.  Poole put out some strong teams.  The Men’s, Ladies, and Juniors all came 2nd in their categories, which is extremely good, as we had some people taking part who haven’t done any competitions before.  The Ladies won the gate relay and the body board race, while the Men won the medley relay and the Juniors came 2nd in the manikin relay and the body board race.

 
 

Summer Twilight’s 2005.                                                              report by Em Ayres
2005 was still a successful year for RLSS Poole Lifeguard in the Summer Twilight.  Although we weren’t able to retain our title as the top club in the bay, we came 2nd with 833 points.  This year Branksome beat us with 892 points.  The Men’s and Ladies teams both came 2nd, and the Juniors came 3rd in their group. 

We had a good turn out, with members of the RNLI Beach Lifeguards from Sandbanks and Shore Road competing for us.  We also had quiet a few of our club members competing, some new and some old!
 
 

Summer Twilight’s 2004.                                                            report by Em Ayres
2004 was a great year in the Summer Twilight series for RLSS Poole Lifeguard.  We were able to secure 1st place overall with 1151 points.  Our nearest rival, Branksome Chine SLC were 348 points behind us.  Poole were also champions in the Ladies and Juniors categories, with both adding points of just over 800 to the total.  The men did really well too; they came 2nd to Branksome Chine SLC with 347 points. 

The year had some interesting competitions at various beaches.  The twilight that posed the greatest challenge was at Friar’s Cliff in Christchurch, where we had some huge swell, and the dry events had to take place on the grass field above the beach as there wasn’t much sand there!!

    A great time was had by all!
 
  Bournemouth Regatta 2004                                                            report by Em Ayres
This was the first Regatta competition that we had entered for a fair few years and we did extremely well! Our only team, the Cadet’s came 1st in their category.  The Team consisted of Rory Smith, Will Ayres, Lauren Dyson, Steph Sansom, Laurence Whiffin and Joel Brady.  There was support on both days from other Club members, both on dry land and out in the water as casualties.  There were some gruelling events, like the Reel and Line, which turned out to be one of our strengths, as we won the event on both days. 

Another challenging event was the Sunday morning incident. This year we had a yachting incident, with upturned boats, and casualties in boats on the water.  Another triumph came from the sea swim, where Rory came first.  The weekend was rounded off with the marching.  Our cadets did well and although they didn’t win that event, they did come fairly high up. 

There was also fun at the Regatta disco on Saturday night.  There were a few people nursing hangovers in the morning, but it allowed everyone to meet in a friendly environment without thinking that they were socialising with some of their main rivals from the competition!
   
 
  Take a look at some of the achievements of our teams over the years.
RLSS POOLE LIFEGUARDS MAKE THE RLSS-UK NATIONAL TEAM

Nine members of RLSS Poole Lifeguard
were selected for the RLSS UK National Ocean Team 1998.

RLSS-UK National Team 1998Fiona Brennan, Sarah Pemberton, Karen Steer, Chris Humpage, Mark Shakles and Glyn Richards took part in trials for the UK Squad in Woolacombe and were delighted that their efforts have been rewarded. The full RLSS UK National Ocean Team met for training in Woolacombe in preparation for the SLSA International in September 1998.

Following the trials and during the build up to the International Competition Paula Spedding, Stephanie Loveitte and Bryce Dyer also joined the team and earnt their first RLSS-UK Cap. Unfortunatley Chris Humpage had to withdraw due to injury only two weeks before the competition.

Fiona, Sarah Stephanie Karen and Paula made up the majority of the winning six man Poole Ladies team who were the RLSS UK National Lifeguard Champions 1997 and who took first place at the Bournemouth Lifeguard Regatta Championships held at Durley Chine 18/19 July 1998. They came second by one point in the 1998 RLSS-UK National Lifeguard Championships.

Chris, Mark Glyn and Bryce made up two thirds of the winning six man Poole Mens team who were also the RLSS UK National Lifeguard Champions 1997. Mark And Glyn were part of the six man team that achieved third place in the RLSS-UK National Lifeguard Chmpionships.

The nine Poole Lifeguards joined the RLSS UK National Ocean Team 1998 to compete in the SLSA GB INTERNATIONAL '98 which took place on Friday 19 September at Porthcawl, South Wales. Mark Shakles was awarded the honour of being madeTeam Captain.

Although it was the last of the competitions for that year the team will look forward to competing in the European Lifesaving Championships to be held in Bournemouth in 1999, the World Lifesaving Championships in Sydney 2000 and the World Games in Japan in 2001.

BOURNEMOUTH LIFEGUARD REGATTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 1998

SATURDAY 18 and SUNDAY 19 JULY 1998

RLSS Poole Lifeguard took part in the above competition at Durley Chine, Bournemouth entering a cadet and a ladies team. The championships are in their 30th year and hosted by Bournemouth Lifeguard Corps.

The teams were as follows:

Cadets: Stuart Frend, Matthew Ball, David Penny, Kelly Morris, Leigh Grey and Ella McKenzie

Ladies: Sarah Pemberton, Joelle Philipson, Karen Steer, Stephanie Loveitt, Melanie Yates and Paula Spedding

The competition consists of two days of events:

Saturday

Each team member competes in a number of individual events such as first aid, questionnaire, various swim events, unknown incidents, rope throw, run, knots and canoe. The team then come together for a reel and line race.

Cadets - Stuart Frend and Matthew Ball, Ladies - Sarah Pemberton, Jo Philipson and Karen Steer all took clear 1st places in their disciplines receiving individual medals for their achievements.

Three man team of Stephanie Loveitt, Melanie Yates and Paula Spedding were placed 2nd.

Sunday

Sunday consists of a team incident, a number of individual races and a reel and line race.

Poole Ladies were placed 2nd in the unknown incident which was a mock diving accident involving multiple casualties. The Ladies also took 2nd place in the marching.

The Ladies took 1st place in the races taking the 'George Ferneyhough BEM Challenge Shield' (last won by Poole Ladies in 1982).

Overall Results

The Poole Lifeguard Cadet team took overall 4th place.

The Poole Ladies took overall 1st place winning the Championships and were presented with individual medals and the 'Bournemouth Lifeguard Corps 1982 Ladies Cup' (last won by Poole Ladies in 1985).

Both teams are extremely pleased with their performances and are now looking forward to their next major competition, being the National Lifeguard Championships to be held at Sandbanks Beach, Poole on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 1998.

RLSS-UK NATIONAL LIFEGUARD CHAMPIONS 1997

RLSS Poole Lifeguards are highly trained to deal with any life threatening incident that could easily occur, and there is no better way to put these skills to the test than at organised lifeguard events.

Many of the public do not realise that the town of Poole is home to the best lifeguards in the country - RLSS Poole Lifeguard entered a mens team, ladies team and boys cadet team in the National Lifeguard Championships held at Sandbanks Beach, Poole on Sunday 07 September 1997. The result of the tremendous hard work and dedication of the three Poole teams was to take overall positions in all categories as well as individual achievements.

The RLSS Poole Lifeguard teams members for the RLSS-UK National Championship 1997 were:

Mens: Mark Shakles, Tim Cross, Chris Humpage, Bryce Dyer, Mark Humby, Glyn Richards
Ladies: Paula Spedding, Dawn Hill, Fiona Brennan, Karen Steer, Sarah Pemberton and Stephanie Loveitt
Boy Cadets: Phil Openshaw, Dave Penney, Matthew Ball, Sarah Harding, Stuart Frend and Leigh Grey

WORLD LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

In 1994 RLSS POOLE LIFEGUARD competed for the first time in the World Lifesaving Championships held in Cardiff and Newquay, and achieved outstanding results. Most notable of these were a gold medal in the 2 km Ladies Beach Run, two semi-finalists in the 100 m Beach Sprint, and a quarter finalist in the Beach Flags.

For our first attempt at the World Lifesaving Championships, competing against 107 teams from 17 countries, we came 24th and were the highest ranked RLSS UK club.

Events included Beach Sprints, Beach Relays, 2km Beach Run, Iron Man, Paddle Board Race, Beach Flags, Taplin Relay (swim, ski and board), Run Swim Run (long distance swim), Rescue Tube Rescue Race and others; as well as a large pool based competition which all counts towards the overall trophies.

COMPETITION SUCCESS

WORLD LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rescue ‘94 Cardiff & Newquay, England - September 1994
One RLSS Poole Lifeguard member Mark Shakles also qualified for the RLSS-UK National team
RLSS Poole Lifeguard Team: Final position 24th from 107 World teams.

Notable results:
GOLD in the 2 km Ladies Beach Run
Two lady semi-finalists in 100 m Beach Sprint
Lady quarter finalist in Beach Flags

Rescue ‘90 Lubeck, Germany
Two RLSS Poole Lifeguard members Mark Shakles and Simon Ball qualified to compete for the RLSS-UK National Team.
RLSS Poole member of UK team Mark Shakles- SILVER medal in men’s’ Malibu Board Race.

Rescue ‘86 Vancouver, Canada
Three RLSS Poole Lifeguard members Mark Shakles Ventia Farant Paul Hillman qualified to compete for the UK team.

NATIONAL LIFEGUARD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Notable Results:

Men’s’ National Reel & Line Champions - 1990, 1991 & 1992. Ski Rescue Race - 1st 1991, 2nd 1992 & 1993 Distance Ski Race - 1st & 3rd 1991, 1st 1992 Ladies Beach Sprint - 1st 1994 Under 17’s Beach Sprint - 1st 1994 Men’s’ Beach Sprint - 2nd 1994 Ladies Beach Sprint Relay - 1st 1994

BOURNEMOUTH LIFEGUARD REGATTA

1993 1992 1991 1990 Men’s’ 1st 2nd 3rd 1st Under 17’s - - 1st -

RLSS INDIVIDUAL LIFESAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 Men’s’ 1st & 3rd 1st 1st & 3rd - 3rd Ladies’ 3rd - - - - Under 17’s 3rd 3rd 1st 1st -

SOUTHERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS

1994 1993 Unknown Team Incident 3rd 2nd & 3rd Ladies Speed Championships 1st 3rd Individual Championships 2nd