KIAMA DOWNS AND CAVES BEACH SHINE ON AUSSIES STAGE
Tuesday 23 July 2024 - by SLSNSW
History was made and legacies cemented on Miami Beach at the 2024 Sharkskin Australian Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships as both Caves Beach SLSC and Kiama Downs SLSC capped their racing season with overall point score victories in the U23s on Friday 19 July and the Masters on Saturday 20 July, respectively.
The former, dominant more-or-less from start to finish in the heart of the Gold Coast, became the first non-Queensland based club to raise the U23 Australian Championship trophy in the history of the event.
Consistency was key for the Hunter club – Caves Beach managed podiums aplenty and took points from every race they contested on the way to a total score of 39, nearly twice that of eventual runners up Kurrawa SLSC and Kirra SLSC who both finished on 21.
“It’s surreal. Honestly, there’s a lot of hours a lot of preparation that goes into winning something as special as this,” Caves Beach driver, Flynn Wallace-Smith said.
“At our club there’s a lot of young talent coming through, but this result is more based on the effort and time we all put into training.”
Meanwhile, a storybook swansong for Kiama Downs legend, Steve Strong was confirmed on Saturday when his club took out the Masters title on his final day of IRB racing.
Strong’s impressive 40-year career was capped by gold and silver in the Male Teams Rescue and Male Surf Rescue – two of six medals all up for the South Coast club who would go on to top the point score with 38.
“To retire on a win like this, you can’t script it,” he said.
“People dream about it and I’m very lucky.
“I’m just over the moon.”
Kiama Downs finished 11 points ahead of Queensland powerhouse club, Broadbeach SLSC and Alexandra Headland SLSC rounded out the top three.
“There are only two clubs on the trophy, us and Broadbeach,” Strong continued.
“We’ve had a bit of a battle for the last couple of years, we won it, then they held on to it for a few years.
“But it’s nice to get it back, that’s pretty special.”
Earlier in the week, the Interstate Championships was run and won with NSW finishing third on countback behind winners, Queensland and runners up, Victoria.
The reports over the course of the 2024 IRB Championships by SLSA run below.
2024 NSW IRB INTERSTATE TEAM
- Oliver Kleyn – Caves Beach
- Luke Warzecha – Caves Beach
- Luke Walmsley – Caves Beach
- William Coppen – Caves Beach
- Nathan Foster – Kiama Downs
- Jordan Dusmanovic – Kiama Downs
- Thomas Doyle – Newport
- Luke Thornton – Newport
- Victoria Coppen – Caves Beach
- Hayley Walmsley – Caves Beach
- Kathy Foster – Kiama Downs
- Ella Cleal-Cook – Kiama Downs
- Rhianna Kevill – Kiama Downs
- Katlynn Coglan – North Cronulla
- Lucy Green – North Cronulla
- Rebekah Hawkins – Nobbys
- Jayden Keys – Thirroul (RES)
- Gabby Grieves – Caves Beach (RES)
2024 NSW IRB DEVELOPMENT TEAM
- Jacob Curcio – Newport
- Jayden Redfern – Newport
- Flynn Wallace-Smith – Caves Beach
- Daniel Ward – Caves Beach
- Alex Shaddock – South Maroubra
- Laurie Golsby – South Maroubra
- Marshall Lines – South Maroubra
- Thomas Hetherington – South Maroubra
- Lily Hook – North Cronulla
- Hannah Berman – North Cronulla
- Emily Thornton – Newport
- Haidee Underwood – Newport
- Isabella Garay – South Maroubra
- Elisa Garay – South Maroubra
- Iona Dyson Merwe – South Maroubra
- Lucy Burns – South Maroubra
- Jack Hawkins – Nobbys (RES)
- Grace Morley – Queenscliff (RES)
Caves Beach victorious in historic U23 SHARKSKIN IRB National Championships
Friday July 19, 2024
New South Wales’ Caves Beach SLSC have taken victory in the Under 23 competition on day two of the SHARKSKIN IRB National Championship in Miami, QLD.
It was a fairy-tale moment for the club, who became the first non-Queensland based team to raise the National U23’s Championship trophy.
Caves Beach was relentless in their racing, with a three silver and five bronze medal haul earning them points in every race they contested, finishing with 39 points. Kurrawa (QLD) and Kirra (QLD) fought hard with the teams finishing second equal on 21 points.
Caves Beach U23s competitor Flynn Wallace-Smith says the club’s strong team culture was key to their success today.
“It’s surreal. Honestly, there’s not a lot of hours a lot of preparation that goes into winning something as special as this,” he said.
“At our club there’s a lot of young talent coming through but this result is more based on the effort and time we all put into training.
“I got a two silver medals in the Male Tube and both the Team events, but for me its more about the people behind me and the people who put the hard yards to get me where I am.
“Two wins in a week, winning in the State of Origin and beating them now, its just surreal.”
The initial rounds of the Masters and Opens competition showcased impressive teamwork, skill, and lightning-fast reactions as participants tackled various races designed to simulate real-life rescues. Both the Opens and Masters competitions will resume tomorrow, featuring the highly anticipated Masters final.
For all the results from today’s racing and point score can be found on LiveHeats here.
Kirra SLSC are the 2024 SHARKSKIN Australian IRB Opens Champions: newport sLSC does best out of local clubs
Sunday July 21, 2024
Kirra SLSC dominated the finals today at the SHARKSKIN Australian IRB Open Championships taking home six gold and three silver medals (62 points). Fellow QLD clubs Broadbeach SLSC (second on 34 points) and Kurrawa SLSC (third on 32 points), put in their best efforts, but it was not enough to stop the team from Kirra SLSC from claiming a decisive victory, taking top spot on the podium.
Kirra SLSC won gold in the Open Male IRB Mass Rescue, the Open Female IRB Mass Rescue, the Open Female IRB Teams Rescue, the Open Male IRB Tube Rescue, the Open Female IRB Surf Rescue, and claimed both gold and silver in the Open Male IRB Surf Rescue. The club also won silver in both the Open Female IRB Tube Rescue and the Open Mixed Relay.
Kirra SLSC team manager Anthony Cassone says his club’s win was a true team effort.
“We’re not a rich club, and we fundraise for everything we have as a team and we really put all our blood sweat and tears into it, so this win really means a lot for the for the club,” he said.
“It’s not just one person or one group, its like a big family. There’s a whole range of people that got us to this moment, and it’s really special for everyone.
“We told the crews to come and make a statement, and I think they did that today.”
Forty-two clubs competed at this year’s IRB Championships, with 375 races run over the four days.
Next year’s National IRB Championships have today been announced for the next two years to be at South West Rocks on the Mid North NSW coast. They will run from 17-20th July in 2025 and 16-19th July in 2026.
Shane Holliday Managing Director of SHARKSKIN says they are excited to continue their support for two more years.
“SHARKSKIN is excited to host the 2025 and 2026 SHARKSKIN Australian IRB Championships at South West Rocks. We look forward to continuing our support of Surf Life Saving Australia and especially IRB racing,” he said.
“Its a great way to engage members at a club level, and we love getting involved in events like this.
“We are excited to announce the extension of our naming rights sponsorship and we look forward to helping to bring the event to South West Rocks for the next two years.”
The Australian Life Saving Team’s IRB competitors were announced today following the competitions results.
It was another amazing feat for the Kirra club, who’s IRB competitors will make up both the Australian Male and Female IRB Crews. These members will represent Australia in the World Life Saving Championships held on the Gold Coast from 20th August to the 8th September.
2024 SHARKSKIN Australian IRB Championships – Opens Competition Pointscore
- Kirra SLSC 61 points
- Broadbeach SLSC 34 points
- Kurrawa SLSC 31 points
- Caves Beach SLSC 12 points
- Barwon Heads 13th Beach SLSC 10 points
- Miami Beach SLSC 8 points
- Newport SLSC 7 points
- Barwon Heads SLSC 6 points
- Williamstown SLSC 6 points
- Thirroul SLSC 5 points
- Nobbys SLSC (NSW) 4 points
- North Cronulla SLSC 3 points
- Kiama Downs SLSC 3 points
- Venus Bay SLSC 3 points
- Hampton LSC 2 points
All the results from the championships can be found on LiveHeats here.
Australian Life Saving Team – IRB Crews
Women’s team
- Te’a Domeracki
- Josephine Dutton
- Chelsea Gillett
- Bailie Nash
Men’s team
- Benjamin Domeracki
- Michael McAteer
- Isaac Nation
- Taylor Rawlings
Coach: Andrew McAuliffe and Te’a Domeracki
Manager: Anthony Cassone
