The Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships (APLSC) took place from 16-18 January, hosted by New South Wales at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This prestigious venue provided the perfect setting for athletes from all states and territories across Australia to compete at a high level in various speed and initiative events. NSW entered both an Interstate and Development Team, consisting of 29 athletes across the two squads.
The Championships began on Thursday, 16 January, with events including the 200m Obstacle Race, 4x50m Obstacle Relay, 12.5m Line Throw, and 100m Manikin Carry. NSW athletes put in an impressive performance on Day One, earning 3 Bronze, 6 Silver, and 6 Gold medals across both individual and team events. The U19 age group also competed in the CPR event, with the U19 women achieving strong results, finishing 4th, 5th, and 7th.
On Day Two, athletes competed in three speed events: the 100m Manikin Carry, 4x25m Manikin Carry Relay, and 100m Rescue Medley. NSW earned 1 Bronze and 6 Silver medals. Later that day, our NSW teams competed in the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC), where emergency scenarios were staged in the competition pool by volunteer actors. Teams had two minutes to save as many patients as possible while demonstrating key lifesaving and first aid skills. Both the NSW State and Development SERC teams performed extremely well, with the U19 State Team claiming a gold medal in their age category.
Day two also featured the CPR competition for the U16 and Open athletes. NSW earned two gold medals, with Caleb Pryce winning in the U16 Men’s competition and Holly Holmesby securing the top spot in the Open Women’s category. Additionally, Nick Hodgers took silver in the Open Men’s competition. A strong overall performance in the Open age category led to NSW being crowned the CPR Overall Open Team Champion.
The final day focused on speed and relay events, including the 50m Manikin Carry, 200m Superlifesaver, 4x50m Medley Relay, 8x50m Fin Relay, and 4x50m Pool Lifesaver Relay. NSW continued their success, earning 5 Bronze, 5 Silver, and 2 Gold medals. It was exciting to see our teams come together for the relay events, with athletes cheering each other on from the grandstand and poolside.
A special mention goes to the NSW Lifesaving Clubs that entered teams in the Interclub Competition, providing an excellent opportunity for them to compete at a national level and earn points for their clubs.
Parramatta City had six athletes, with several excelling in the U14 events. Alun Griffiths from the 60 & Over category was the top point scorer for his age category – well done, Alun!
Enfield entered three athletes, all of whom did a fantastic job, with a special mention for their volunteer work as officials and actors during the SERC event.
Hills Swimming & Lifesaving Club fielded a strong team of nine athletes, ranging from 11 to 66 years old. Congratulations to all those who competed in the CPR competition as they were awarded the CPR Competition Encouragement Award, receiving a brand-new Little Anne Manikin and a gift voucher for their club.
Engadine Lifesaving Club also had seven athletes, many of whom were competing at such a high level for the first time. A notable mention goes to Jake Fitzgerald, who, at just 12 years old, entered the U16 CPR competition and earned a gold medal, proving that it’s never too early to learn CPR and how to respond to emergencies!
Following the final day of competition, athletes, coaches, managers, and officials gathered for the Presentation Function at The Epping Club. Results were announced, and many of our NSW athletes were honoured with Perpetual Trophies, with Brayden Woodford from our NSW State Team being named Male Lifesaver of the Meet. The Western Australian Team took top honours, claiming the Interstate Overall Championship and the Sir Percy Joske Trophy.
All in all, the Championships were a great success, with the NSW State Team securing third place in the overall Interstate Point Score. A special thank you to Head Coach Ethan Garland for keeping the athletes focused, refining their skills, and motivating them when needed. State Team Manager Rob Dale and Development Team Manager Sarah Fitzgerald also played important roles in keeping the team organised, from attending daily meetings and overseeing event entries to preparing outfits for the presentation function – they dedicated their time to ensuring every team member had an enjoyable experience at APLSC.
We look forward to APLSC 2026, which will be hosted by Western Australia in Perth in June. After such a successful event in Sydney, we are confident that many of our athletes will be inspired to apply for the NSW State Teams and have a chance to compete in Perth next year!
Comments