NINE Clare lifeguards are heading to Riccione, Italy for The World Lifesaving Championships later this month.

The biannual championship is the centre point of what are known as ‘lifesaving sports’, events such as obstacle swims, mannequin throws, surf races, beach sprints and board rescues. The tournament awards the world title to the most successful national team across all disciplines.

This year, in their bid for the crown, Ireland will be sending twelve junior and twelve senior competitors, of which the Banner County will be represented by Leana Liddane, Oisin O’Grady, Ferdia Hayes, Hugh Cronin, Leah McMahon, Aoife Madigan, Hannah Garrigan, Tommy Nunan and Dylan O’Brien.

Clare McGrath, Chairperson of Water Safety Ireland is a referee for the upcoming championships. She explained, “The tournament is in two parts, they have three days in the swimming pool where they do lifesaving races and they compete with a 70kg mannequin in different disciplines where they fit it with a tube, they carry it to safety and everything all with speed. Then there’s the other part of it that is three days where they do it out on the ocean. There’s distance swimming and paddling and rescue board races where one person, simulating a drowning person who needs help, is picked up at a marker and brought back to shore. So, there’s quite a few disciplines”.

The tournament has always been dominated by the South Pacific but Clare thinks Europe has developed a lot in recent years, “Australia and New Zealand are the teams to beat for the whole world but it has become stronger in Europe. There’s very strong French, English and Irish teams that are now making finals and challenging the main players and that’s with a lot of work we’ve done ourselves to bring our standards higher,” she said.

Almost a third of the national team is made up of Clare competitors which reflects well on water safety in the county, Clare said “A lot of our people compete very well which means Clare has very strong lifeguards. They’re fitter and stronger than those in most other counties.”

The world championships comes as a cap to what has been a hugely successful season for life saving sports in Clare. In the youth ranks Clare took first place in the national championships in Youghal, Co Cork in both the Nippers competition for children aged 8-14, and the junior section for those 14-18. Clare picked up 43 medals between the two categories including 17 golds.

Related News

facebook tab 1
Kilmihil man found guilty of harassing Garda on Facebook
25092024_Shannon_Chamber_Skillnet_Shannon_Springs_0018 captioned-2
Shannon Chamber Skillnet delivering a new cohort of business leaders
deirdre murphy clareabbey 1
Iconic GAA figure Brendan Vaughan remembered with renaming of meeting room in his honour
medical file doctor 1
Hospital tells Garda it is 100% likely medical report of Shannon man will be ready to allow trial proceed
Latest News
deirdre murphy clareabbey 1
Iconic GAA figure Brendan Vaughan remembered with renaming of meeting room in his honour
medical file doctor 1
Hospital tells Garda it is 100% likely medical report of Shannon man will be ready to allow trial proceed
facebook ipad 1
Jury to continue deliberations in case of Kilmihil man accussed of harassing Clare Garda
mary fehily 1
Mother in law of Clare TD Crowe dies in traffic tragedy
naomh eoin v clondegad 12-10-24 sean mcallister 2
Clondegad, Doora/Barefield, Ennistymon & Lissycasey through to U21A football semi-finals
Premium
naomh eoin v clondegad 12-10-24 sean mcallister 2
Clondegad, Doora/Barefield, Ennistymon & Lissycasey through to U21A football semi-finals
kilmurry ibrickane v doora barefield 27-10-24 hannah doyle ciara mccarthy 1
'Very small margins' cost Doora/Barefield in bid to win first senior ladies final
Niall Bonfil Naomh Eoin 26Oct24
Missed chances a killer for Naomh Eoin
michael neylon Munster Under 20 Football Championship Quarter Final 2022 Clare V Tipperary
Neylon resigns as Clare U20 football manager
sixmilebridge v inagh kilnamona 06-10-24 tommy liddy 2
'We were second to everything' says Bridge boss Liddy

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top