RLSS UK Lifesaving Championships Final 2024
Having previously qualified after competing in Regionals, a group of Poseidon Lifesaving Club members secured their spots to represent Ireland and travel to Leeds to compete in the RLSS UK Lifesaving Championships Final. Joined by family and supporters they competed all day on Saturday 2nd November and did the club proud. Huge congratulations and well done to all of the Irish team who finished 2nd place overall, with special mention to Sinead Ivory and Emilie Fahy who secured 1st place in the Adult Ladies category.
Well done to all who competed, we are especially proud of our club’s representatives on Team Ireland:
Ruth O’Reilly, Erin Callanan, Seán Hogan, Adam Devlin, Eva McGloin, Amelie O’Halloran, Isaac Devlin, Sam Jones, Sinéad Ivory and Emilie Fahy.
Find out more about the results below and have a look at some photos from the event.
You will also find reports from some of our competitors and ‘casualties’ to give you a good firsthand insight into the event!
Results:
Junior Girls
Ruth O’Reilly & Erin Callanan
1st place in Aquatic Incident
4th place Overall
Junior Open
Seán Hogan & Adam Devlin
1st place in Aquatic Incident
2nd place in Rope Throw
4th place Overall
Senior Girls
Eva McGloin
Amelie O’Halloran
Senior Open
Isaac Devlin & Sam Jones
Adult Ladies
Sinéad Ivory & Emilie Fahy
1st place in Dry Incident
2nd place in Aquatic Incident
1st place in Swim & Tow
1st place Overall
Competitor - Seán Hogan
“I competed in the junior open category of the Nationals in Leeds in November for the first time and I really enjoyed it.
The night before the competition, all the competitors and supporters from Poseidon went to Nando’s. We then had a Team Ireland meeting before bed at the hotel and got our gear.
In the morning we got Ubers to the pool and did the parade. Team All Ireland was first out and I felt proud walking around the pool. You really feel part of a team.
After that, we got changed into our gear ready to start. The land incident was first and then it was the water incident. We then got to chat and eat before rope throw and swim & tow. It was a long day but yet it went so fast. Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the airport.
If you’re going for the first time don’t be nervous and have fun. Also when you go into lock up bring food. And chat to the Berchman competitors: they’re part of Team Ireland too.
If you get the opportunity to compete, take it. It is a great experience and one I won’t forget.”
Spectator/Supporter/Casulty - Sé Hogan
The competition was a good experience for me. I was a casualty, a spectator and a supporter. There were several regions taking part with many from different parts of the UK. Very different to being a casualty in Ireland for a handful of incidents and just two clubs.
From a casualty perspective, it was high pressure. I was casualty with a broken arm. I had to tread water for 21 incidents over two hours.
From a rookie’s perspective, I would say I learned some stuff like don’t tell everyone to swim in individually (it wastes time)
Instead say “everyone swim in if you can ! “ Scan the area as you’re coming down by looking at the other incidents (it saves time) going out with the club is great craic (Nando’s burgers are amazing)
Being a supporter is important too. Team Ireland seemed to have the loudest crowd.
Message from Club Captain and competitor - Emilie Fahy
“Hi everyone! Emilie here, I just wanted to congratulate everyone who competed in the National Lifesaving Championships 2024 in Leeds.
You all did yourselves and our club very proud! I also want to say well done to everyone who competed in Regionals, the scores between everyone were really close and we had our biggest numbers of competitors from our teams getting through to Nationals yet!
These competitions are tough as they require you to think on the spot, use your skills, as well as swim hard in a short space of time- I have seen at training that you are all very capable of this!
Sinéad and I were delighted with our performance this year, however this has been years in the making. We both started lifesaving over 10 years ago and have had many ups and downs since then. We both stayed consistent with our training and we were determined to do well in this competition – having this goal really helped to motivate us.
There are many highs and lows at these competitions – maybe you miss your rope throw, you forget to ring for an ambulance etc., however it is important to use this experience and use it to motivate you to train harder so that at the next event, you come back even stronger.
My advice to the rookies is to take in as much info as possible and to keep asking questions. The most important part, in my opinion is to make friends with your teammates. I look forward to training every time as I get to see my friends and I feel that our warm community is the best part about our club. When it comes to competing together you can meet up and do extra training with them – you will start to notice that this really pays off.
Thank you to all our fantastic coaches and team for preparing everyone and making the Leeds 2024 trip happen!”