Competitions
Throughout the year we enter a huge variety of competitions as a club. "How do you compete in lifesaving?" I hear you ask, well hopefully the following will explain.
The sport of Lifesaving tests all the skills that a good lifesaver should have. These include:
- The ability to rescue casualties in trouble
- To treat a huge variety of first aid problems
- To have the necessary fitness and speed to perform effective rescues
- To use equipment, boats and fins in our rescues.
These skills are used in a variety of setting both in real life and during competitions, this includes the pool, simulated dry-land incidents, and open water/the beach.
As you can probably guess it would be impossible to test all of the above during one type of competition so we compete in multiple competitions during the year.
University League (BULSCA) Competitions next competition
These are the majority of competitions we do. It is a 4 person mixed-team competition. There are several events in the day, then a huge social in the evening. Here is a breakdown of all the events:
- Dry Incident Each team tackles an unseen themed incident. They have 2 minutes to perform first aid and CPR on as many casualties as possible, and find out what is happening.
- Wet Incident Each team has 2 minutes to retrieve and treat as many of casualties from the water as possible. This is not a straight race - the casualties will need prioritising to ensure that maximum marks are gained.
- Rope Throw This is the first of the events that follows more of a swimming event format. It is a straight race in which each member of your team coils and throws a length of rope to the next member of the team 12m away in the pool. They are then pulled in and climb out to act as the next rescuer, and this repeats until all four team members are out of the pool.
- Swim + Tow Again this is a relay, the first lifesaver swims 50m and contact tows the next lifesaver 50m. The next lifesaver then performs the 50m swim + 50m tow rescue and so on.
- Speed Relay See the details of the speed races below, the home club pick either 4x50m Medley, 4x50m Obstacles or 4x25m manikin carry.
The Speed Nationals
This national competition is open to all and takes place just before Easter in Sheffield. It mostly consists of individual events with some mixed relays.
Student Nationals
This is the second, national championships that we enter; it has a more traditional event base, similar to the University league competition. However this is an individual competition, with 2 qualifying rounds at a regional level and a final in Sheffield each November. Individually each person participates in each of the following events:
- Wet incident - Rescue lots of people in 90 seconds
- Dry incident - Show perfect CPR, and do first aid at the same time!
- Rope throw - Again throw a rope to a casualty 12m away, and pull them in.
- Swim + Tow - 50m Swim, 50m Tow. Hint: find a small casualty!!
Bournemouth Regatta
The Bournemouth Regatta is a beach competition, which has changed significantly from the last few years. This year it has a variety of team and individual events, click here for more information.
Beach Twilights
These take place in the evenings during the summer term, on the beaches around Poole bay. The following list of races are those that take place in an ILS beach comp.
- Surf Swim 400m swim, with a start and finish on the beach (i.e. a small silly run at the start and finish).
- Board Race About 500m on a rescue board, again start and finish on the beach.
- Ski Race Skis are similar to open cockpit kayaks - and very unstable!
- Oceanman Do all of the above one after the other, followed by a run!
- Beach Sprints 90m on the beach, run, simple!
- Beach Flags Each person at the start of the race stands up, turns around sprints about 20m and dives to get a small "flag" out of the ground - those that don't get a flag are out.
Further information
Not everybody in SULSC chooses to compete. There is no pressure to be competitive. Many of our members just focus on awards and socials, however almost everyone who has competed enjoyed it and keeps coming back for more. I would encourage you to reserve judgment until you have competed. Go on, give it a go! Feel free to speak to any member of the committee for more information.
Useful links:
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