Banner backbone for national junior team

CLARE Junior Surf Lifesavers played a big role in the European Junior Lifesaving Championships last week with seven of the 10-strong Irish team hailing from the Banner.
The boys were the big medal winners but the girls put in a tremendous effort and acquitted themselves well.
Held in Antwerp, Belgium, competitors were tested in simulated rescue scenarios, directly related to elements of lifeguarding on the beach, open water and in a pool.
They team was Bernard Cahill, Dylan Barrett, Conor Rooney, Declan Bredin, Eoin Trihy, Siobhán McGrath, Caoimhe Gowran, Luíse O’Donovan, Gemma Haughey and Aimee Walsh. Clare’s Oisín McGrath was the team coach with Colm Fitzgerald the assistant coach. The Irish team manager was Sarah English.
The Irish team was in first place in the beach events and second overall for beach and open water.

Results
Board paddle race: Bernard Cahill (gold); Dylan Barrett (ninth) and Declan Bredin (10th) in A final; Siobhán McGrath (eighth) in A final; Caoimhe Gowran (B final).
Run swim run: Bernard Cahill (gold); Conor Rooney (bronze); Dylan Barrett (fifth) in the A final.
Board rescue: Bernard Cahill and Dylan Barrett (silver); Siobhán McGrath and Caoimhe Gowran (fifth) in A final.
2K run: Declan Bredin (silver).
Still water, pool competitions: Irish team broke six Irish records and achieved eight personal bests.

National Nipper Championships

WHILE the Junior Surf Lifesavers represented Clare on the Irish team in Belgium, the Little and Big Nippers, ranging in age from eight to 14, represented Clare at the National Nipper Competition in Inchydoney, Cork. The Nippers competed in a range of beach and open water competition against teams from all over Ireland.
While many individual Clare competitors brought home gold, silver and bronze medals, it was the accumulation of the team points which earned the county Nippers the National Nipper Trophy for the second year in succession. This will sit in pride of place alongside the Munster Provincial Nipper Trophy earned by Clare Nippers at the Whitestrand, Miltown recently.

National Surf Lifesaving Championships

THE Clare juniors, seniors and masters will compete this weekend in Rossnowlagh, Donegal in the National Surf Lifesaving Championships.