Youth/Senior Vic Champs at Lorne

Youth/Senior Vic Champs at Lorne

Our Victorian Championships team gathered at the Lorne Beach on Feb 20th for the start of a three-day racing event. As per the usual tradition, Friday started with the ‘rescue events’, including belt races, rescue tube rescue races, belt races, board races and tube races.

The Portsea women’s team was looking strong with six of our best female lifesavers ready to race in the specialty events, supported by club president Matt Mahon, who has honed his skills as reelman in the traditional event of ‘belt-race’.

Charlie Cornwell and Archer Larke flew the flag for the men-folk in the ocean arena, ready to race for some red and white glory! Ed Barnaby has been a member of the LSV Winter High Performance Squad and hit the beach track Saturday morning.

The weather and sea conditions were near-perfect for racing. Unfortunately for the women’s team, Mackie Hunter rolled her ankle in a pothole as she was leading out the Open Women’s Belt Race. Rolling around in agony herself, Mack was off to hospital for x-rays, on the wrong end of a Penthrane inhaler! Discharged in a moonboot, her activities were restricted to cheering for the rest of the carnival.

Charlie Cornwell, on the back of a solid winter of kayak training, showed the field that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, winning his U19 ski race and backing it up with a standout silver in the open ski final.

Ed Barnaby might have been flying solo in the beach events, but he was a highly sought-after ‘spare’ for composite teams and found himself up on the dais on multiple more occasions.

The competition team is not just about racing – it’s about team building, socialising and having fun with your teammates. Friday BBQ was at the club accom house, the Saturday team dinner was at the Lorne Pub, and the hours of cheering and chatter were under the foreshore Portsea Competition Team tent.

Thanks to our club official, Chloe Hardman, and to Nat Hood, Matt Mahon, Cam Hunter, Cath Horskins and Marty Barr for logistics and parental chauffeur services!

Best of luck to Ed, Charlie, Chloe and Matt who are heading north to race at Aussies! We hope the weather, surf and sand gods shine for you.

The comp team is recruiting for next year and we welcome any new and returning competitors to come along for the enjoyable ride!

Results:

GOLD:
U19 Men’s Ski Race: Charlie Cornwell
U15 Men’s 2km Run: Ed Barnaby
U19 Men’s Ski Relay: Charlie Cornwell, in a composite with Half Moon Bay
Youth Men’s Cameron Relay: Ed Barnaby, in a composite with Anglesea
Youth Men’s Beach Relay: Ed Barnaby, in a composite with Anglesea and Warrnambool
Youth Men’s 2 x 1km Beach Relay: Ed Barnaby, in a composite with Anglesea

SILVER:
Open Men’s Ski Race: Charlie Cornwell
U19 Women’s Rescue Tube Rescue Race: Annabelle Mahon, Katie Kerr, Mia Horskins and Olivia Barr

BRONZE:
U15 Men’s Beach Flags: Ed Barnaby
U19 Women’s 2km Run: Katie Kerr
U19 Men’s Belt Race: Archer Larke (swimmer), with Matt Mahon, Olivia Barr, Katie Kerr and Charlotte Mahon (handlers)
Open Men’s Belt Race: Archer Larke (swimmer), with Matt Mahon, Mia Horskins, Katie Kerr and Annabelle Mahon (handlers)
Open Women’s Rescue Tube Rescue Race: Mackie Hunter, Annabelle Mahon, Charlotte Mahon, Olivia Barr
U19 Women’s Belt Race: Annabelle Mahon (swimmer), with Matt Mahon, Mackenzie Hunter, Olivia Barr, Charlotte Mahon (handlers)