North Shore Leisure lifeguards best in the region
30 July, 2009
North Shore Leisure pool lifeguards have brought home the trophy – after competing against five other teams, from South Auckland to Rodney, to win a regional lifeguarding competition last Thursday (July 23).
Ryan Ford, Jo Wilson, Corey Williams and Chris Beaumont (pictured left to right, above) plus Kay Mann, all from North Shore Leisure Glenfield and Takapuna, demonstrated their talents in challenges to test their emergency-response, fitness and swimming skills.
It is the first year a team from North Shore Leisure has entered the competition and challenges included sprints, relays, a rope throw, tube rescue and tow rescue.
Held at Manukau Aquatic Centre, teams competing against North Shore Leisure included the YMCA, West Wave, Community Leisure Management, Stanmore Bay and Manukau.
Kay Lawry, North Shore Leisure Manager, says she’s extremely proud of the team. “Our lifeguards held competitions amongst themselves to select the four to compete in the regional challenge, so we put forward very strong competitors.
“This is an excellent achievement and it highlights the emphasis we put on skill training for our guards,” she says.
Competitor Corey Williams says the group was coached by Joanne Wilson and it had been a real “team-effort”. Since the team got together they had been training for the competition almost every day in their own time.
“There were certainly a couple of strong teams in the competition that pushed us, but we did really well and managed to either win or come runner-up in almost all of the challenges,” he says.
“I’ve had to do a few rescues in my time working at North Shore Leisure, where people have gotten in too deep and started to panic.
“Training for challenges like these gets lifeguards in good condition to take-on real-life scenarios.”
The team takes home a cup in recognition of the achievement.
Ends
For more information phone 444 6340 or email us