May 19 - 25, 2024: Issue 626

 

2024 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Round 1 - Race Results + Action Photos By Richard Black

Mona Vale SLSC members taking part in the 2024 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Round 1 at Collaroy. Photo: Richard Black

The Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Series is back for season 2024, with a bumper crop of eager and enthusiastic teams ready to bring the unique blend of competitive speed and technical, lifesaving precision to Collaroy ahead of Round 1.

Surf Life Saving New South Wales, in announcing the 2024 Series, stated:

The name of the game is upskilling and improvement, as it has always been, but there’s a fire burning within many athletes who want to upset the apple cart and overturn more than a decade of dual-club dominance.

For more than 10 years it’s been Caves Beach SLSC and Kiama Downs SLSC duking it out at the top of the standings, with the South Coast club usually coming up trumps.

However, Caves Beach snapped an eight-year streak when they finished ahead of Kiama Downs at the IRB Championships at Ocean Beach in 2023, having two weeks earlier also claimed the IRB Premiership Series as well.

Both teams are back and ready to roll once again this year, as is most of the clubs that kicked off proceedings almost 12 months ago at Warilla-Barrack Point, while a host of new ones including Wanda SLSC, Forster SLSC and Fingal Beach SLSC will hit the water throughout the series.

Surf Life Saving NSW Director and Chair of Surf Sport, Don van Keimpema is looking forward to seeing the 2024 Premiership play out, which sees four surf clubs host rounds over the coming months before the State Championships at Cape Hawke in July.

“The Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership is a feature event on the state surf sports calendar – it provides a great spectacle and showcases the skills of our membership in a competitive format,” he said.

“I’m really excited for the new season and to see which clubs will be in the mix to win the Premiership title.”

Local surf clubs taking part are Avalon Beach, Newport, Bungan, Mona Vale and Queenscliff. 

The 2024 IRB Premiership Rounds include:

  • Collaroy SLSC: 10-12 May
  • Fingal Beach SLSC: 25-26 May
  • North Avoca SLSC: 8-9 June
  • Ocean Beach SLSC: 22-23 June
  • IRB Championships – Cape Hawke SLSC: 5-7 July

The annual IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) competition aims to improve the skills and technique of IRB drivers and crew as well as allow crews to demonstrate their techniques and abilities to perform rescues. Along with Age Divisions, there are five events in IRB competition to hone the skills of IRB Lifesaver Members:

IRB Rescue: teams are comprised of one patient, one driver, and one crew member. The patient is in the water at a designated buoy, the driver and crew member are at the starting line at the on the beach. On the starter's signal, competitors launch the IRB, proceed through the surf to pick up the patient, round the buoy, and return to shore.

IRB Team Rescue: teams are comprised of one patient and two crews (one driver and one crew member per crew). On the starter's signal, the first crew launches the IRB and proceeds through the surf to the patient. As the IRB rounds the buoy, the first crew member jumps overboard. The driver completes the buoy turn and returns to shore alone. The second crew member moves into the water, and takes control of the IRB. The first driver runs up the beach and tags the second driver. The second crew re-launches the IRB, proceeds through the surf to pick up the patient and the first crew member, rounds their buoy, and returns to shore to finish the event.

Mass Rescue: teams are comprised of one driver, one crew member and two patients. Both patients start the event in the water. The crew proceed through the surf, pick up their first patient and return to shore. The driver and the patient must exit the IRB where the patient retires to the beach. The driver proceeds to the start/finish line, rounds a marker and returns to the IRB. The IRB is re-launched and the crew rescues the second patient, returns to the beach and across the finish line.

IRB Rescue - Tube Rescue:  teams are comprised of one patient, one driver, and one crew member. On the starter's signal, competitors launch the IRB, proceed through the surf and turn around their respective turning buoy. The crew member then enters the water and swims past the turning buoy to their patients. The crew member secures the rescue tube around the arms of the patient and tows the patient back to the IRB. Once the crew member and patient are safely aboard, the driver navigates the IRB around the team's turning buoy and returns to shore to finish.

IRB Relay: this event is a continuous relay involving the four events in the following order: Rescue Tube, Mass Rescue, Teams Rescue and Rescue. Each leg is per the description above except for changeovers between legs. 

Last weekend Collaroy hosted the first round - the Finals results, available to download at: 2024 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Round 1 - Race Results, have been collated for this record.

Newport and Queenscliff have either won or been among the placings during this Round - while strong representation from Avalon Beach, Bungan and Mona Vale SLSC's across the events and age divisions, making semi-finals and finals, are an indication of why people are safe on our beaches during the warmer seasons.

The names of Officials who worked as volunteers at this, and all Rounds of the 2024 IRB Premiership, features great people from across the state as well as from peninsula clubs; North Curl Curl, Newport, Queenscliff, North Narrabeen, Avalon Beach, North Steyne, Mona Vale and Collaroy. Without these dedicated people these events would not take place nor run as smoothly as they do.

Some of Richard Black's brilliant photos of the action run below this, capturing this is an event for all ages, and a great video SLS NSW has put together. 

Rookie Mass Final

  1. Newport Change with a towel 
  2. Newport Gold 
  3. Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Barking Porpoises 
  4. Ocean Beach Red Rockets 
  5. Caves Beach caves maroon 
  6. Bungan Beach Sloppy 
  7. North Avoca BLACK 

U23 Male Mass Final

  1. Caves Beach caves white
  2. Newport Change with a towel
  3. Newport Gold
  4. Caves Beach caves maroon
  5. Maroubra Notorious IRB
  6. South Maroubra Blue
  7. Queenscliff Coffee 
  8. Fingal Beach Brady Bunch

Also racing in this Division: Newport Maroon, Bungan Beach Mini Me, Mona Vale Mini's, Queenscliff Hercules, North Cronulla Wet Rubber, Maroubra Plough the Bow, North Avoca Hit The Deck, Fingal Beach Breakers, Kiama Downs Red, South Maroubra Navy, North Cronulla Angry Mexican, Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Holiest of Hulls, Fingal Beach Brady Bunch

U23 Female Mass Final

  1. Caves Beach caves maroon
  2. South Maroubra Gone with the Win
  3. North Avoca Coming In Hot
  4. South Maroubra Bubblewrap
  5. North Avoca 2 STROKE WONDER

Also racing in this Event Division: Queenscliff Pussycats, Maroubra Lets Get Wet, Nobbys The Ejectors, Ocean Beach Blue

Open Female Mass Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Caves Beach maroon
  3. South Maroubra Gone with the Win
  4. Newport Maroon
  5. Nobbys Air BnB
  6. Caves Beach yellow
  7. Kiama Downs White
  8. North Cronulla Chop Queens

Also racing in this Event Division: Bungan Beach Jizzy, Queenscliff Don`t over think it, Queenscliff Princesses, North Cronulla Emotional Beach Whales, North Cronulla Chop Queens, South Maroubra Bubblewrap, South Maroubra M&M, South Maroubra Best of Boat Worlds, Maroubra Lets Get Wet, Maroubra Top Deck, Maroubra Error 404, Bondi Brazil Nuts, Bondi Beaches, Bondi Thelma and Louise, Thirroul Duck Duck Goose, Thirroul Duck for Cover, Thirroul The Pryce is Right, Kiama Downs Black, Nobbys Sunday Coldies, Nobbys Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate, Caves Beach maroon, Caves Beach white, Ocean Beach Ships and Giggles, Helensburgh Stanwell Park All Bras no Bros, North Avoca 2 STROKE WONDER

Open Male Mass Final

  1. South Maroubra Shibalah
  2. South Maroubra Power Puffs
  3. Kiama Downs Red
  4. Newport Change with a towel 
  5. Thirroul Yeah the Buoys
  6. Newport Joyride
  7. South Maroubra Nerd Surfers
  8. Kiama Downs White

Also racing in this Event Division: Avalon Beach To Thick To Quick, Newport Maverick and Goose, Bungan Beach B1, Mona Vale Team A, Queenscliff Comin in hot, Queenscliff Coffee, Queenscliff Give it some, Fingal Beach Brains Trust, Fingal Beach Breakers, South Maroubra Ziggy No, South Maroubra Behind the Backboard, Maroubra Clutch Start, Maroubra Plough the Bow, Caves Beach black, Caves Beach white, Caves Beach yellow, Bondi Rescue, Bondi Postmen, Bondi Full Turtle, Bondi Juan and Two, Maroubra The Dunnybowls, North Cronulla Wet Rubber, North Avoca PULL AND PRAY, North Avoca HIT THE DECK, North Avoca SMOKING GUNS, Thirroul Knot Shore, Nobbys Sould Have Gone to Specsavers, Nobbys Fuchs Lubricants, Ocean Beach Running'High, Maroubra Slingsho, North Cronulla Tea Bag, Thirroul Cookie Monster, Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Howling Clams, Ocean Beach Mining our Business, Nobbys ISP All Stars

35+ Yrs Female Mass Final

No results available.

35+ Yrs Male Mass Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Queenscliff Old Mate
  3. Thirroul 2.0 Golden Oldies 
  4. Caves Beach maroon
  5. Caves Beach white
  6. North Avoca MOTO MOTO

Also racing in this Event Division: Avalon Beach Venerable Reprise, Mona Vale Team A (made Semifinal) Bondi Steazy Teaze, Ocean Beach Working from Home, Helensburgh Stanwell Park Ships and Giggles, Ocean Beach Insecurely Consistent, Ocean Beach Hired Help

45+ Yrs Male Mass

  1. Thirroul Cookin Rabbits 
  2. Caves Beach caves white 
  3. Nobbys (NSW) Ali G Allstars
  4. Newport Send it then mend it 
  5. South Maroubra Illusions
  6. Avalon Beach Leaky Vessels 
  7. Bondi Mercury

Rookie Rescue Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Caves Beach caves maroon
  3. Kiama Downs Black
  4. Ocean Beach Red Rockets 
  5. North Cronulla Sandy Tiller

Also racing in this Event -Division: Newport Change with a Towel (made Final), Queenscliff Motor I’d like to flog (made Final), Mona Vale Whales, Newport Gold, Newport Maroon, Bungan Beach ADHD Incoming, Queenscliff Happy Dayz, North Cronulla Big Boaty Beaches, Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Barking Porpoises, Thirroul Only Frans, North Avoca BLACK, Thirroul Pete the builder, Caves Beach white, North Avoca NOT LIABLE, Ocean Beach Red Rockets, Ocean Beach Provisional Learners, North Avoca POOTATA, Nobbys Skyes The Limit, North Avoca HITTIN BRICKS, Bondi Lets OG, Maroubra Wheels and Brow, Nobbys Duck Duck Goose

U23 Female Rescue Final

  1. South Maroubra Chicks Ahoy
  2. Caves Beach maroon
  3. South Maroubra Blue
  4. Newport Gold
  5. Maroubra Lets Get Wet

Also racing in this Event -Division: Queenscliff Pussycats, Thirroul Duck for Cover, Thirroul Swim Shady, South Maroubra Shevil Knevils, Kiama Downs Red, Bondi Illegally Blonde, Caves Beach white, Caves Beach black, North Avoca COMING IN HOT, North Cronulla Emotional Beached Whales, Maroubra Top Deck, North Avoca 2 STROKE WONDER, Ocean Beach Blue, Maroubra Error 404, Nobbys The Ejectors

U23 Male Rescue Final

  1. South Maroubra Blue -
  2. Caves Beach caves maroon
  3. Newport Gold
  4. North Cronulla Wet Rubber
  5. Thirroul Knot Shore
  6. Queenscliff Coffee

Also racing in this Event-Division: Newport Mocstars, Newport Change with a Towel, Bungan Beach Mini Me, Mona Vale Corny's, Queenscliff Show us some mongrel, Queenscliff Hercules, Caves Beach caves white, Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Holiest of Hulls, North Avoca HIT THE DECK, North Avoca PEAK PERFORMERS, Maroubra Footlong Eyebrow, Maroubra Notorious IRB, North Cronulla Wet Rubber, Maroubra Plough the Bow, North Avoca PULL AND PRAY, North Cronulla Angry Mexican, Nobbys Rapid Drys, Fingal Beach Brady Bunch, Fingal Beach Breakers, Thirroul JD, Bondi Speed Demons, South Maroubra White, Nobbys Chill Proof

Open Female Rescue Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Kiama Downs White
  3. North Cronulla Chop Queens
  4. Caves Beach maroon
  5. Queenscliff Pussycat 
  6. Maroubra Lets get wet
  7. Thirroul Duck Duck Goose
  8. Caves Beach black

Also racing in this Event-Division: Newport Nuggets, Newport Maroon, Newport Gold, Bungan Beach Jizzy, Queenscliff Don’t over think it, Queenscliff Princesses, Bondi Beaches, South Maroubra Blue, South Maroubra Chicks Ahoy, South Maroubra Vitamin Sea, South Maroubra Shevil Knevils, Helensburgh Stanwell Park All Bras no Bros, Caves Beach black, Caves Beach grey, Maroubra Lets get wet, Maroubra Top Deck, North Cronulla Emotional Beached Whales, Thirroul Duck for Cover, North Avoca 2 STROKE WONDER, Kiama Downs Gold, Bondi Brazil Nuts, Kiama Downs Black, Nobbys Sunday Coldies, North Avoca COMING IN HOT, Nobbys Air BnB, Bondi Anxiety Thrill, Bondi Thelma and Louise, Nobbys Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate, Maroubra Error 404, Thirroul The Pryce is Right, Ocean Beach Ships and Giggles, 

Open Male Rescue Final

  1. Newport Change with a towel
  2. South Maroubra How Do I Get Off This Thing? 
  3. South Maroubra Purple Haze
  4. Newport Joyride
  5. North Avoca PULL AND PRAY
  6. Maroubra The Dunnybowls
  7. North Cronulla Wet Rubber
  8. Kiama Downs Gold

Also racing in this Event-Division: Avalon Beach To Thick To Quick, Newport gold, Newport Maverick and Goose, Bungan Beach Kia-Ora Bro, Bungan Beach Tinkerbell, Mona Vale Team A, Mona Vale Team B, Queenscliff Hercules, Queenscliff Comin In Hot, Queenscliff Coffee, Queenscliff Give it some, Queenscliff Get in the tub, Helensburgh Stanwell Park The Howling Clams, South Maroubra Yoshi, Newport Maverick and Goose, Bondi Rescue, Thirroul Cookie Monster, North Cronulla Angry Mexican, North Cronulla Wet Rubber, North Avoca HIT THE DECK, Kiama Downs Black, Kiama Downs Red, Kiama Downs Blue, Bondi Postmen, Caves Beach black, Caves Beach white, Caves Beach pink, Caves Beach grey, Caves Beach yellow, Bondi Juan and Two, Nobbys Gold Springs Heavy Haulers, South Maroubra Webbo, Maroubra Plough the Bow, Nobbys Woodsy's Haulage, Nobbys Fuchs Lubricants, Fingal Beach Brady Bunch, Bondi Kay Nines, North Avoca SMOKING GUNS, Maroubra Plough the Bow, Maroubra Footlong Eyebrow, Thirroul Knot Shore, North Cronulla Angry Mexican, South Maroubra Show us your Cans, Nobbys ISP All Stars, North Avoca USED AND ABUSED, Bondi Bonshi, Maroubra Footlong Eyebrow, North Avoca PEAK PERFORMERS, Bondi Full Turtle, Ocean Beach Running'High, North Cronulla Tea Bag, Nobbys Sould Have Gone to Specsavers

35+ Yrs Female Rescue Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Caves Beach maroon
  3. Kiama Downs Black
  4. Bondi Duck Buddies

35+ Yrs Male Rescue Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Thirroul 2.0 Golden Oldies
  3. Queenscliff Old Mate
  4. Bondi Juan and Two
  5. Bondi Steazy Teaze
  6. Caves Beach maroon
  7. Caves Beach white

Also racing in this Event-Division: Avalon Beach Venerable Reprise, Mona Vale Team A, Queenscliff Get in the tub, North Avoca MOTO MOTO, Ocean Beach Hired Help, Ocean Beach Working from Home, South Maroubra Divide and Conquer, Ocean Beach Insecurely Consistent, 

45+ Yrs Male Rescue Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Thirroul Cookin Rabbits
  3. Caves Beach black
  4. Caves Beach white
  5. Newport Send it then mend it
  6. South Maroubra Webbo
  7. Bondi Mercury
  8. Avalon Beach Leaky Vessels

Also racing in this Event Division: Newport Gold, South Maroubra Webbo, Helensburgh Stanwell Park Daddy Long Legs, South Maroubra Scotter Butch, Nobbys (NSW) Ali G All Stars, North Avoca USED AND ABUSED, Nobbys Little Johny, Bondi Veins of Steel, Bondi Mercury, Maroubra Interceptor, Helensburgh Stanwell Park Meat and Potatoes, North Avoca SMOKING GUNS, Nobbys Fuchs Lubricants, North Cronulla Voltaren 50s, 

U23 Female Teams Final

  1. South Maroubra Women of Mass Destruction
  2. Caves Beach caves maroon 
  3. Maroubra Slippery When Wet
  4. North Avoca 2 HOT
  5. Thirroul Swim Shady
  6. Caves Beach caves white

U23 Male Teams Final

  1. Caves Beach caves maroon
  2. Maroubra Duck Yeah
  3. Queenscliff Coffee
  4. Newport Gold
  5. Fingal Beach Kiddies Corner
  6. North Avoca PULL AND PERFORM

Also racing in this Division: Newport Mocstars with a towel (made the Final), Mona Vale Corny Mini (made the Final), North Cronulla Baby Nuhts, South Maroubra Blue, North Avoca HIT THE POOTATA, Nobbys Chill Proof, Thirroul Knot Shore JD, 

35+ Yrs Male Teams Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red
  2. Bondi Bondi
  3. Thirroul 2.0 Golden Oldies
  4. Caves Beach caves maroon
  5. Ocean Beach Blue

Also racing in this Division: Queenscliff Old Mate, North Avoca MOTO MOTO, and those listed above.

Open Female Teams Final

  1. South Maroubra Women of Mass Destruction -
  2. Kiama Downs Red
  3. Caves Beach caves maroon
  4. Kiama Downs Black
  5. North Cronulla Boats & Hoes
  6. Thirroul Duck Duck Goose 
  7. Newport Gold 

Also racing in this Event- Division: Newport Maroon, Queenscliff Pussycats, Ocean Beach Blue, Maroubra Wet and wild, South Maroubra No Wake, Bondi Pink Ladies, Bondi Tag your it, Caves Beach caves white, Nobbys Air BnB, North Avoca Gold

Open Male Teams Final

  1. Kiama Downs Red 
  2. Thirroul Yeah the Buoys 
  3. Newport Joyride with a towel
  4. Caves Beach caves maroon
  5. Newport Gold 
  6. Queenscliff Coffee
  7. South Maroubra Titanic
  8. Thirroul Cookin Rabbits
  9. Fingal Beach Get It Together

Also racing in this Division: Bungan Beach Flying Bungholes, Mona Vale Team A, Queenscliff Comin In Hot, Caves Beach white, Caves Beach yellow, Caves Beach black, South Maroubra City Wok, Bondi Full Throttle, South Maroubra Shake and Bake, Ocean Beach Blue, Bondi Battlers, Nobbys Sould Have Gone to Specsavers, South Maroubra Titanic, Bondi Hot Dogs, North Avoca PEAK POOTATAS, Maroubra Loose Units, North Cronulla Showbags, North Avoca HIT THE DECK, Nobbys Gold Springs Heavy Haulers, Thirroul Yeah the Buoys, Helensburgh Stanwell Park Dirty Mike and The Boys, Maroubra Wheres Coco, North Avoca PULL AND MOTO, 

45+ Yrs Male Teams Final

  1. South Maroubra Someone Pass the Fireball
  2. Nobbys (NSW) Ali G ISP All Stars
  3. Newport Gold
  4. Helensburgh Stanwell Park Stanwell Parky Sparky 
  5. North Avoca Smoking Aces
  6. Nobbys Fuchs Lubricants