Share

Veteran Smith wins at Lifesaving SA National Champs

accreditation
Rob Smith (topfoto.net)
Rob Smith (topfoto.net)

Cape Town - Summerstrand's Masters veteran Rob Smith was again superb at the General Tire Lifesaving South Africa National Championships.

Smith on Monday was one of an awesome eight to finish the tough guy/gal challenge, which takes in seven of the most testing events.

Smith, in the 55-60 age category, also won the 100 m manikin race with fins, which forms part of the seven-event challenge.

There was no individual winner in the tough guy/gal ultimate challenge, with the victory being in just being able to finish the seven disciplines of flags, swim, single ski, beach sprint, board race, 100 manikin carry with fins and 50 manikin carry.

The awesome eight are: Darrek Penn, Mascha Moorlach and Jeane Topliss (Fish Hoek), Francois Sisam (Alpha), Stanford Slabbert and (Rob) Smith (Summerstrand), Shane Misdorp and Rowen Matthews (Pirates).

Smith's Summerstrand team-mate Lindi Humphreys was also strong in the pool, winning the 100m minkin tow and tube in the 30-34 age group.

The Masters swapped the surf for the pool as the Juniors also started their National Pool Championship campaign.

lifesaving

The future of the sport took to the surf and sand of Kings Beach in Port Elizabeth on Day Two of the General Tire Lifesaving South Africa National Championships.

Sunday belonged to the Masters but Monday the spotlight shone on those Nippers aged 9 to 14.

World record holder in the linethrow, Milan Erasmus and Connor Botha, will both be in action in the pool, but they will be competing against each other, as opposed to with each other when they broke the world record and took gold at the World Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

Summerstrand and hosts Kings Beach were a consistent presence on the surf Masters podium, but if those who represent the sport's yesteryear were largely local then the winners in the Nippers came from all over the country.

Plettenberg Bay's Hannah de Necker won the female under nine run/swim/run. Durban Surf's Nicholas Taylor topped the male under nine run/swim/run. The under 10s winners were Summerstrand's Lisa de Villiers and Plett's Liam Stephenson.

Boksburg's Aiden Bornman took first in the male under 14 run/swim/run with Plett's Matthew van Coller second. East London’s Jordan Fenn surprisingly finished out of the medals in fourth place, with third going to Llandudno's Lee Anderson.

Other winners in the run/swim/run were Suncoast Pirates's Tayla Haslam (female under 13) and Fish Hoek's Thomas Wiltshore (male under 13).

lifesaving

Images: topfoto.net

Click the link below for all the Nippers Surf results:

https://southafrica.carnival.sls.com.au/eventmgr/results/report/public/141/1

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE