New Zealand Pool Championships sanctioned by ILS

The 15th annual New Zealand Pool Championships is set to not only be the biggest ever but it is also to benefit from being sanctioned, for the first time, by the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS).

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, commenting “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.”

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 NSW.

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 4x50 metre Obstacle Relay, 4x25 metre Manikin Relay and 4x50 metre Medley Relay.

Lord says the event is always a drawcard because of its uniqueness, adding “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.

“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 100 metre Obstacle Swim with a time of 1.33.17 (old record- 1:39.50) and another in the 100 metre 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 13th October 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.

For live results go to liveresults.co.nz/sls

Images: The Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre will host the 15th annual New Zealand Pool Championships.

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