Fish Hoek Defend SA Surf Lifesaving Title in Durban

Defending champions Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club (SLC) showed just why they are such a nationally-feared unit, as they continued their remarkable dominance on Saturday’s third and final day of the South African Surf Lifesaving Championships 2013 at Durban’s Addington Beach, and in the process secured yet another national title in both the senior and junior divisions.

The huge Cape based outfit arrived in Durban as clear pre-event favourites and with a single goal on their minds – claim both titles up for grabs – however few would have predicted correctly just how far ahead of their competitors they would be of the three day competition hosted by Marine SLC.

Having lead at the close of both the first two days Fish Hoek’s continued to grab the lion’s share of podium finishes on the final day, regularly claiming first, second and third in the junior boys and girls events.

Final day standout performances from the senior section’s overall victors included a monumental effort from U16 talent Kirsten Flanagan, as she went on to claim the senior women’s Ironwoman title, the most prestigious and highly sought-after individual title up for grabs.

Fish Hoek’s senior women Flanagan and Lisa Cowling (Surf Swim) also showed their individual strength throughout the day, before combining in the team events to claim the senior women’s Taplin, Board Rescue, Double Ski, Single Ski Relay and Surf Swim Team titles.

“Being a part of the lifesaving club is just part of what the majority of Fish Hoek locals are about,” explained Marine SLC committee member and champs competitor. “It’s that underlying culture within most of the youngsters from Fish Hoek and the backing they receive from the entire town that I believe has played a major role in the success they have enjoyed recently.”

Despite Fish Hoek’s complete and utter dominance on the score board the third and final day’s action was however a memorable one for some others as, particularly local clubs Durban Surf and Marine, put in a host of top performances as organisers pushed through the mammoth reshuffled last day’s programme after the heavily weather effected proceedings on the first two days.

A strong surge from Durban Surf’s senior competitors saw them finish in a solid second place overall after the local athletes used their hometown advantage and experience to overcome the constantly changing conditions throughout the day with one of their highlights of the day being the first and second the club’s competitors claimed in the Team Swim.

Fellow local outfit, Marine, also made use of their local knowledge with their notable movement coming in the junior category as they climbed above the Eastern Cape’s Kings Beach to claim second overall.

Despite the extremely tough conditions, competitors from around the country put in performances of the highest standard through the three day contest with Mandi Maritz (Durban Surf) and Flanagan being awarded the senior women’s Competitor of the Championships awards.

The 2013 South African Surf Lifesaving Championships were hosted by Marine Surf Lifesaving Club and took place from Thursday 21 March to Saturday 23 March at Addington Beach with the South African Masters Surf Lifesaving Championships having preceded the event on Wednesday 20 March.