New Zealand Pool Championships sanctioned by ILS

The fifteenth annual New Zealand Pool Championships is not only set to be the biggest ever; it has just been sanctioned by the International Lifesaving Federation.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Sport Manager Mike Lord says this is fantastic news for the event which has continued to grow year-on-year.

"It means that if any World Records are broken this year, they will be recognised by the ILS which makes the achievement even greater for our athletes," he says.

The New Zealand Pool Championships is the first national event for the 2017/18 surf lifesaving season and has drawn entries from 687 athletes- an increase of 70 on last year.

A total of 31 clubs are taking part with the largest number of entrants from Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club (77) followed by Orewa Beach (72) and Wellington's Lyall Bay (63). Coming from the furthest South is 14 athletes from Dunedin.

Along with the 31 Kiwi clubs entered is a team of 19 racing for Surf Life Saving Australia and another 12 from Surf Life Saving New South Wales.

There will be around 400 races contested across age groups from 10 years through to Masters (over 30). Events include rescue medleys, line throws, swimming with fins while carrying a rescue tube and 'rescuing' a manikin off the bottom of the pool.

Specific team events will provide an opportunity for the New Zealand Open and Youth, Australian and New South Wales teams to go head-to-head in the 4x50m Obstacle Relay, 4x25m Manikin Relay and 4x50 Medley Relay.

Mr Lord says the event is always a drawcard because of its uniqueness.

"Unlike being out in the surf, competitors can watch the action more closely and clubs can compete together and cheer each other on in a stadium-like environment, he says.

"Many of our members spend the cooler winter months training for surf-based rescues in a more controlled environment and this is a great way to demonstrate where they're at ahead of the new summer patrol season."

Last year's event saw Orewa Beach's Sandra Burrow set two new World Records in the 65-69 Masters Women's; one in the 100m Obstacle Swim with a time of 1.33.17 (old record- 1:39.50) and another in the 100m Manikin Tow with a time of 1.36.25 (old record- 1.37.88).

Along with World Records are New Zealand records and, with 45 new New Zealand records set last year, it is expected that many will be broken across the board again this year in all age groups.

Points will be allocated for each individual and team race and then all points will be added together for top club points.

The Paul Kent Memorial Trophy (last year won by Mt Maunganui) will be presented to the top club with culmination of points in the Under 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19 and Open age groups and the Top Masters Club Trophy (last year won by Orewa) will be presented to the top club with culmination of points in the Masters age groups.

Racing begins at 9am on Friday October 13 at the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre (AUT Millennium) in Albany with the Junior (Under 11-14) events and continues with a full day of racing on Saturday for the Under 16, Under 19, Open and Masters, concluding around 3pm on Sunday.

Click here for more information and follow the live results page throughout the weekend at http://liveresults.co.nz/sls

Entries by club:

Brighton- 2
East End- 19
Fitzroy- 11
Foxton- 4
Australia- 19
New South Wales- 12
Levin-Waitarere- 2
Lyall Bay- 63
Mairangi Bay- 77
Maranui- 20
Midway- 15
Mt Maunganui- 60
Muriwai- 19
New Brighton- 4
New Plymouth Old Boys- 19
Omaha Beach- 22
Omanu- 24
Orewa- 72
Paekakariki- 4
Papamoa- 39
Piha- 43
Red Beach- 53
SLSNZ test club- 1
St Clair- 12
Sumner- 16
Taylors Mistake- 3
Titahi Bay- 1
Waihi Beach- 9
Waikanae- 9
Waimairi- 5
Wainui- 19
Whangamata- 4
Whiritoa- 5
Total= 687

Editor's note- event descriptions:

50m Swim with Fins:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle wearing fins

4x25m Brick Relay:
Four competitors in turn carry a brick approximately 25m each.

50m Rescue Medley:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle to turn, dive, and swim underwater to a submerged manikin. The competitor surfaces the manikin within the 5m pick-up line, and then carries it the remaining distance to the finish edge of the pool.

100m Tube Swim with Patient and Fins:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle with fins and rescue tube. After touching the turn wall, and within the 5m pick-up zone, the competitor fixes the rescue tube correctly around their patient who is waiting with one hand on the end of the pool and tows them to the finish.

50m Brick Carry without Fins:
The competitor swims 25m (U13/U14yrs only) or 35m (U11/U12yrs only) freestyle to turn, dive, and recovers a submerged rubber brick. The competitor surfaces the brick within the 5m pick-up line and then carries it the remaining distance to touch the finish wall.

4x50m Medley Relay:
Four competitors swim 50m freestyle each without fins.

50m Swim with Obstacles:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle during which he/she swims under two (2) immersed obstacles.

100m Obstacle Swim:
The competitor swims 100m freestyle during which he/she swims under four (4) immersed obstacles.

200m Obstacle Swim:
The competitor swims 200m in freestyle during which he/she swims under eight (8) immersed obstacles.

4x50m Obstacle Relay:
Four competitors swim 50m freestyle each passing under two (2) obstacles.

Line Throw:
In this timed event, the competitor throws an unweighted line to a fellow team member located 12.5m in the water and pulls this "victim" back to the poolside.

100m Rescue Medley:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle to turn, dive, and swim underwater to a submerged manikin located at 17.5m distance. The competitor surfaces the manikin within the 5m pick-up line, and then carries it the remaining distance to the finish edge of the pool.

4x25m Manikin Relay:
Four competitors in turn carry a manikin approximately 25m each.

100m Manikin Tow with Fins:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle with fins and rescue tube. After touching the turning edge, the competitor fixes the rescue tube around a manikin floating at the surface at the edge and tows it to the finish.

100m Manikin Carry with Fins:
The competitor swims 50m freestyle wearing fins and then recovers a submerged manikin to the surface within 10m of the turn wall. The competitor carries the manikin to touch the finish wall of the pool.

50m Manikin Carry (without fins):
The competitor swims 25m freestyle and then dives to recover a submerged manikin to the surface within 5m of the pick-up line. The competitor then carries the manikin to the finish edge of the pool.

4x50m Medley Relay:
The first competitor swims 50m freestyle without fins. The second competitor swims 50m freestyle with fins. The third competitor swims 50m freestyle pulling a rescue tube and after having touched the wall, passes the harness of the rescue tube to a fourth competitor who wears fins. The third competitor, playing the role of "victim" holds the rescue tube with both hands, while being towed 50m by the fourth competitor to the finish.

200m Super Lifesaver:
The competitor swims 75m freestyle and then dives to recover a submerged manikin. The competitor surfaces the manikin within 5m of the pick-up line and carries it to the turning edge. After touching the wall the competitor releases the manikin. In the water, the competitor dons fins and rescue tube within 5m of the turning edge and swims 50m freestyle. After touching the wall the competitor fixes the rescue tube around a floating manikin within 5m of the turning edge and tows it to touch the finish edge of the pool.

6x50m Mega Relay:
Six competitors (1x Open Female, 1x Open Male, 1x U19 Male, 1x U19 Female, 1x U16 Male, 1x U16 Female) in turn swim 50m freestyle each either with or without fins.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager
Phone 0276 488 823 or email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz