Umina surf lifesavers make up almost half of state’s top teenage surf lifesaving team who were selected in the NSW Under-18 Pool Rescue Development Team to tour New Zealand this October.
The nine-strong team of talented 16-18 year olds will travel to Auckland to compete at the New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships which are held at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre at AUT Millennium from October 12-14. In the team are Umina’s Kaylah Holmes, Kirsten Miller, Lachlan Braddish and Blake Hessel. “This tour is a great stepping stone for younger athletes to be able to progress in the sport of pool rescue and be given a pathway to some of the many representative team opportunities in surf lifesaving,” said Surf Life Saving NSW sports officer Ms Chiara Nowland.
“The team were chosen on the back of stellar campaigns in the NSW and Australian Pool Rescue Championships, and while some have already had the thrill of pulling on the sky blue cap for the bulk of the team, it will be their first overseas tour,” she said. The strong Umina contingent will be joined by athletes from Newport, Caves Beach, Bulli and Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Clubs. “The New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships are one of the most competitive in the world and the successful athletes will not only be competing against some of the best pool rescue athletes but will also gain tuition through top-level coaching. “Many of our senior NSW athletes cut their teeth on tours like this so it’s a wonderful opportunity for our teenager starters to travel to New Zealand for what promises to be an outstanding competition.”
SOURCE: Media release, 28 Aug 2018 Liam Howitt, SLS NSW Media