National Competition Success for the Splash Lifeguard team
The National Lifeguard Championships were held at Stechford Cascades swimming pool in Birmingham on 1st November 2008. ‘Team Splash’ battled it out with 18 other teams from Great Britain and Ireland to come 4th in the competition. Leeds were ‘Team Splash’s’ closest rivals with the two teams level on points, Splash were pipped to third place on a technicality. However 4th place still secured ‘Team Splash’ as the top team in the North East of England.
The National Pool Lifeguard Championships, now in its fourth year allows leisure centres to showcase their life guarding talent whilst testing their skills and teamwork under immense pressure. This was a highly competitive competition, comprising of five individual events, which tested life guarding skills and abilities from all its competitors.
This is the 3rd year that Tees Active has entered a team and is testament to the high standards that Splash staff provides the public with on a daily basis. ‘Team Splash’ was lead by Amanda Taylor, Duty Manager at Splash Active Life Centre; other team members included Sian Bollands, Hannah Williams, Sally McTomney, Dean McCall, Shane Hassall and Daniel Frost. All the team are RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualified.
During the competition ‘Team Splash’ endured a grueling assault course, in a very wet, muddy and boggy woodland area. Followed by a number of skills tests, first aid and pool incidents. Finishing with a closely fought torpedo buoy relay, testing every part of a lifeguards skill and fitness.
The team qualified for the finals back in June, when they came second out of twelve teams that entered the regional heats in Leigh near Manchester. Since June ‘Team Splash’ have trained hard giving up their spare time so they could be at their best at the final.
Team leader Amanda Taylor said, “ I am extremely proud of team splash and their achievements of reaching 4th place. Their show of good sportsmanship and genuine friendliness really came through on the day. During the past year, all the lifeguards have worked hard to improve their life guarding, first aid skills and widen their knowledge”.