The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Ennis swimming and lifesaving club members Bernard and Norma Cahill, Dylan Barrett, Oisin McGrath and Colm Fitzgerald return from Australia this week with gold, silver and bronze medals won at the World Lifesaving Championships in Adelaide.
Competitors from 40 nations took part in these championships that saw the Ennis club representatives confirm their standing as one of the leaders when it comes to lifesaving.
Bernard Cahill returns home this week with gold, silver and bronze medals while his mother, Norma, brought home silver and bronze medals. Dylan Barrett, Oisin McGrath and Colm Fitzgerald are also bringing gold, silver and bronze medals back to the Banner County.
Bernard Cahill was the gold medal winner in the men’s 16-19 100m rescue medley. In the same age group he won silver in the 50m manikin carry while he was the bronze medal winner in the 200m super lifesaver section, again in the same age group.
His mother, Norma, won the silver medal in the mixed open 200m super lifesaver section while she was the bronze medal winner in the masters swim race.
Dylan Barrett teamed up with Dublin’s David Butler to win the mens open 100m line throw.
Oisin McGrath and Colm Fitzgerald were silver medal winners in the masters board rescue. Oisin also won bronze in the masters board race.
Commenting on the results Chairman of Irish Water Safety’s Sports Commission, Seamus O’Neill explained the importance of lifesaving sport in Ireland.
“Lifesaving sport is all about perfecting the skills that prevent drownings. 140 people drown in Ireland every year. A person drowns somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, equating to over one million drowning tragedies every year. These figures present an unacceptable and preventable toll and are the driving motivation for Irish Water Safety’s Lifeguard and Lifesaving training programme.”
“Rescue 2012 is more than competition, winning medals and creating champions”, O’Neill added.
“It is about meeting fellow lifesavers, honing skills and exchanging ideas. Our competitors are lifesavers. Our lifesavers conduct patrols on beaches, lakes and pools. The competition is a method of improving lifesaving skills and engaging people in the overall global drowning prevention effort.”
Lifesaving has never been stronger in Ireland, especially at the grass roots level. There are thousands of kids, teenagers and adults with a particularly growing sector of 8-14-year-old nippers who come through participating in Irish Water Safety Lifesaving classes and competitions. The drop-off rate during adolescence is a lot less than in other sports.
