Harrison Hynes, TJ Chong Sue and Chalise Pratt

West Aussies heading to the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving

Royal Life Saving WA congratulates three young West Aussies who have been named in the 16 member Australian team for the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving, which will be held in Leeds, UK from the 21st to the 23rd November. The Australian contingent will compete as part of the National and Development Teams’ competition, and individually as part of the Lifesaving Challenge.

The three West Aussies in the team include TJ Chong Sue, who made his mark as Lifesaver of the Meet at this year’s National Pool Lifesaving Championships, Harrison Hynes and Chalise Pratt.
As a first-time National representative, TJ Chong Sue said “I’m most looking forward to the experience of competing against different nations and seeing how they prepare themselves. Also I’m very keen to hopefully make new friends with other RLSSA and international competitors. I’m hoping to achieve a few PBs at the Festival, as well as gaining more experience towards my long-term goal of making an open lifesaving team.”

There’s more Western Australian involvement in the coaching and management team for the event, with Royal Life Saving WA State Team Manager, Jen Jones Managing the Australian team, and WA State Team Coach, Andrew Ridley Australia’s Assistant Coach.

The Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving comprises the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships and an individual Lifesaving Challenge, encouraging participation and development for both amateur and experienced competitors from Commonwealth nations. The National and Development Championships program includes traditional speed events including the Manikin Tow, Manikin Carry and Super Lifesaver. The Lifesaving Challenge events will include line throw, obstacles and individual Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC), testing an individual’s response to a simulated aquatic emergency.

The Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving is a key event for emerging pool lifesaving athletes to hone their skills and experience international competition, and for many athletes as a development pathway to the Australian Lifesaving Team, the pinnacle of lifesaving sport in Australia.

The RLSSA Team will depart Australia on the 17th of November, following a pool lifesaving development camp with the Australian Lifesaving Team in Queensland in October. The Australians will be looking to defend their National and Development Team Championship titles from the 2017 Festival in Durban.