Clare Nippers crowned national champions

SPANISH Point was a hive of activity last Saturday as 300 young lifesavers from all over Ireland competed in the National Nipper Lifesaving Championships, hosted by Clare Water Safety.

For the third year in-a-row, the Clare Nippers retained the national trophy. The Clare teams of 75 nippers, ranging in age from eight to 14, competed against teams from Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Louth, Wicklow, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and Galway.
The competition was held in challenging weather, sea and tide conditions as the young lifesavers demonstrated their lifesaving skills. They were supported not only by family and friends but also by Clare County Council and public representatives, including Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes, Deputy Timmy Dooley, Senator Tony Mulcahy, Councillor Michael Hillary and Councillor Christy Curtin.
Among those to achieve first places were Noel Shannon, Róisín Cahill, Dara Gleeson, Hugh McMahon, Lily Barrett, Leah McMahon, Lorcan Casey and Conor O’Brien.

Junior, seniors and masters championships
CLARE Water Safety will also host the National Junior, Seniors and Masters Lifesaving Championships over the weekend of September 10 and 11 at Spanish Point.
Clare teams will compete to retain the President’s Cup and also challenge for national trophies.

Junior European Championships
This coming weekend, the Irish Junior Lifesaving team heads to Copenhagen to compete in the European Junior Championships.
Of the Irish team of 10, seven members are from Clare. They are Bernard Cahill, Eoin Gleeson, Ciara Gleeson, Adam McEvoy, Siobhán McGrath, Ciara Sexton and Rory Sexton.