On Saturday 2nd September, teams from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire came to Retford Leisure Centre to compete for places to represent the East Midlands at the RLSS UK National Lifesaving Championships to be held on 4th November in Leeds.
The competitors take part in four events to determine who is the best over all the events. The first is a 50m swim and then tow a simulated casualty 50m. This was an exciting and lung-bursting event. Then they pick up a 15m rope, and they have to coil and throw the rope to a simulated casualty and pull them to the side. It sounds simple, but try doing all that in 10 seconds. They then have their decision-making and teamwork skills tested as they work in pairs to work out a safe and effective rescue of five or six simulated casualties in a water emergency, and they have just 90 seconds to get everyone to safety. Then they are presented with an unknown first aid emergency, and they have to treat the casualties and are marked on how well they do so in the 90 seconds they have.
Retford and District Life Saving Club, based at the Retford Leisure Centre, hosted the event and fielded a team of 29 competitors. A great night was had by all, and the Retford club won all but two of the East Midlands Team spots.
Chloe Turner and Emily Remmer won the 12-14 years girls, Bea Shelley and Abi Corrance won the 15-17 years girls, Seth Grayson and Zak Lewis won the 15-17 years boys, while James Oakes and Sebastian Wilkinson won the 17-19 years boys. Georgina, Ben and Theresa Tomlinson all won their categories Female open, male open and Masters respectively. Retford also took more of the Masters’ place with Nicola Tasker, Jeremy Baguley and Pete Moyes, all winning their age groups.
The pool was buzzing with a great atmosphere and many spectators cheering on their teams. This is such an important competition in supporting the RLSS UK to drive down drownings in the UK through sport and education for everyone to enjoy water safely.