Records fall as WA clinches best ever finish at Pool Rescue Championships

WA’s Western Suns Pool Rescue team have wrapped up their most successful ever Interstate Pool Rescue Championships coming away with a 2^nd place finish, and nine Australian records.  

Records began to fall on day one of the Surf Life Saving Australia Championships in Adelaide over the weekend as Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club’s Tupou “TJ” Chong-Sue claimed his first Australian record in the U15 200m Obstacle Race, a precursor to what was to be an outstanding weekend for the WA super-fish as he took a further four Australian records, a gold and a silver.

North Cottesloe’s Alicia Anderson also started the weekend off with a splash claiming an Australian record in the Women’s 30-34 years 200m Obstacle Race.

Fremantle’s Harrison Hynes took gold in the U17 200m Obstacle Race; followed by City of Perth’s Madison Howe (U17) whose gutsy performance only saw her pipped at the post for gold by Queensland sensation and new World Record holder Lani Pallister; and U19 Callan Smith (Trigg Island) who also had a magnificent swim to take out silver, along with a swag of other medals across the weekend.

TJ Chong Sue from Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club - Gold medallist and new Australian Record holder for the U15 200m Obstacle Race!

Fremantle Surf LIfe Saving Club's Harrison Hynes - U17 200m Obstacle Race Gold medallist!

City of Perth SLSC's Madison Howe - Silver medal in the U17 200m Obstacle race

Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club's Callan Smith - Silver medal in the U19 200 m Obstacle race

The afternoon relay session saw our U14/15 male relay team (Chong-Sue, Savage, Snook, Rothnie) take bronze in the 4 x 50m obstacle race, as did our U17/19 females (Howe, Pratt, Metcalfe, Airey) while our U17/19 males (Hynes, Egan, Smith, Meldrum) claimed the silver.

Kicking off in similar fashion, day two saw Chong-Sue claim another two of his Australian records in the 100m Manikin Tow with fins and the 200m Super Lifesaver, and gold in the 50m Manikin Carry, while North Cottesloe’s Adam Moore took an Australian record in the 40-44 years 100m Manikin Tow with fins.

Heading into day three of competition and sitting in third place, 50 points behind NSW, WA athletes continued to turn in strong performances, chipping away at NSW’s lead to edge them out of 2^nd place by 11 points, with  Queensland the ultimate victors.

Records continued to shatter with Howe turning in another outstanding performance to claim a new Australian record in the 50m Swim with fins, while Chong-Sue continued his winning streak with his fourth Australian record in the U15 100m Rescue Medley, and Moore claimed his second Australian record in the 40-44 years 100m Manikin Carry with fins.

One of the youngest competitors on the team, U15 Lily Moore (North Cottesloe) also capped off a successful weekend taking silver in the 50m Swim w/Fins and a Bronze in the 100m Manikin Carry w/Fins.

Team Captain Jake Smith, carrying a foot injury that hampered his performance, had a quiet meet but was able to produce some outstanding results for WA in the relays, as well as contributing to his club’s overall performance (Trigg Island). A member of the Australian Lifesaving Team set to compete at the World Championships in November, he is expected to be back to full strength in time.

Congratulations to all members of the WA team, comprised of athletes from eight WA clubs, whose performances did both WA and their clubs proud, and thanks to Team Manager Graham Snook, Assistant Manager Bronwyn Meldrum, and our Western Suns official apparel partner, Engine Swim.

Congratulations also to Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Club who, in a strong showing, finished the weekend in 6^th place.

Western Suns Athletes – Australian Records

Men 14 Year Olds 100 LC Metre Rescue Medley Opens – Tupou Chong-Sue, Fremantle SLSC

Men 14 Year Olds 200 LC Metre Obstacle Race – Tupou Chong-Sue, Fremantle SLSC

Men 14 Year Olds 100 LC Metre Manikin Tow w/Fins – Tupou Chong-Sue, Fremantle SLSC

Men 14 Year Olds 200 LC Metre Super Lifesaver – Tupou Chong-Sue, Fremantle SLSC

Men 14 Year Olds 100 LC Metre Manikin Carry w/Fins – Tupou Chong-Sue, Fremantle SLSC

Men 40-44 100 LC Metre Manikin Tow w/ Fins – Adam Moore, North Cottesloe SLSC

Men 40-44 100 LC Metre Manikin Carry w/Fins – Adam Moore, North Cottesloe SLSC

Women 15-16 50 LC Metre Swim with w/Fins– Madison Howe, City of Perth SLSC

Women 30-34 200 LC Metre Obstacle Race – Alicia Anderson, North Cottesloe SLSC

Full results can be found here.