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Port Elizabeth - Teenage sensation Connor Botha announced his arrival in the most emphatic way in becoming the first teenager to triumph in the men’s open division at the General Tire Lifesaving South Africa National Club Surf Championships at Kings Beach.
Umhlanga Rocks’ Botha, just 17, is the son of legendary South African international lifesaver Dylan Botha.
And at the 2019 nationals he confirmed that his career in competitive lifesaving will be as industrious and celebrated as his dad’s.
Botha beat Fish Hoek’s Nic Notten into third place in the surf swim, but Notten recovered to take gold in the premier Iron event. Notten and Anna Notten made it a family day of gold, with each bagging three first places in individual and relay disciplines.
Marine’s Carmel Billson also proved unstoppable in winning the female Iron and taking four golds.
Billson has no equal when it comes to female lifesaving in South Africa across stillwater, pool and surf. She has been exceptional this year in being the leading female in the open division at the stillwater nationals in Bloemfontein and also in the pool national club championships earlier in the week at Port Elizabeth’s Newton Park.
Her form in the surf in the last two days has been as commanding and compelling.
Beach flags and sprint specialist Mandi Maritz proved a class above the rest in taking gold in the flags and sprint. Her double of 2019 was a repeat of her 2018 double and showed just why she has consistently been ranked in the top three internationally. She also won silver in the flags at last year’s world championships in Adelaide, Australia.
South Africa’s finest masters, nippers, juniors and seniors have been doing battle at Port Elizabeth’s Kings Beach all week, with the latter part of the week dedicated to the very best men and women in the open division.
The core of Team South Africa’s world championship squad has been in action. These men and women have shown their class and reinforced why they were selected to represent South Africa.
* History was also made at the Nippers National Club Pool Championships where five teams beat the old South African record and the top two teams tied for first in the mixed 8-9 200 LC Metre 4x24 Manikin Relay. Durban Surf and Harties were the joint winners in a new South African record of 1 min 50.87 seconds.
For all the results visit www.lifesavingsa.co.za
