Huge junior field expected at Southern Region Pool Champs

This weekend's Southern Region Pool Championships is once again set to be a hugely junior-dominated event with over two thirds of the entries coming from the Under 14 division.

However, one big change to the annual event is the increase in the number of Masters athletes competing this year with 45 taking part.

The event will be held at the Moana Pool in Dunedin with a full programme of events across Saturday and Sunday.

With 208 athletes entered from 12 clubs, it is set to be a big weekend of racing.

Southern Region Programmes and Services Manager Scotty Roberts says this year we will see a team from St Kilda racing for the first time in three years. "It's good to see them back racing at pool events, along with a big team from Oreti, the most Southern of our surf clubs, coming up for this event."

Mr Roberts says the event is looking good on the back of some local 25m pool events that have been held in the build up to this in Christchurch, Otago and Southland. "So we should see some quick times this year," he says.

The champs will feature events ranging from manikin carries and obstacles to line throw and rescue medleys. All the events are based around rescue capability and are specific to saving people's lives- what surf lifesaving is all about.

Mr Roberts says some of the athletes to watch out for will be the Nash brothers (Tom, Jack, Adam and Matt) from New Brighton in the Open Men's relay events along with Lachlan Brandham from St Clair.

Click here to join the Facebook event page.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz