In an era of postponements and cancellations, it was a highlight for many of our regional surf lifesavers that the South Island IRB Championships were able to be held at Waikouaiti Beach on Saturday, 19 March 2022.

Great weather for the competition contributed to a "primo" event, and all competitors put on performances to match the superb conditions. Columba College had a number of current and former pupils participating; Year 13 student, Mia Stout, graced the front page of the ODT on Monday with her eye-catching performance in the IRB. Mia competed for her St. Clair Life Saving Club at the champs, and came away with some superb results: 2nd in the U19 mass rescue race, 1st in the U19 singles race, and 1st in the U19 tube rescue. Two golds and a silver - well done, Mia!    

Year 11 student, Amelia Loudon, teamed up with former Columba students Madi Loudon and Emily Peacock and their club, St. Kilda, came away as the top club in the South Island for the IRB champs. As the 'patient' this year, Amelia secured one gold medal in the U23 tube rescue when working as a team with Madi and Emily. As well as the gold, Amelia collected four bronze medals in the following events: Female U23 teams, U23 single rescue, U23 female mass rescue, and U19 tube rescue. Impressive results, Amelia!

During IRB championship events, the patients' role is to be ripped out of the water at speed while the IRB is turning around a buoy. It can be a risky manoeuvre and patients have been known to be run over at times! Tube rescue involves being towed in a tube on your back, kicking as hard as you can for 50 meters, then pulling yourself into the IRB and racing back to the shore. Speed, stamina, strength, and skill - all are necessary for participation in Surf Lifesaving!!

Congratulations on your stellar performance in and on the water, girls! We wish Mia and Amelia, and our former students all the very best as they prepare for the National IRB Surf Rescue Champs at Waikanae Beach in early April. Bring the medals home to the South!  

(Thanks to Kate Jerram for these great photos, and to the ODT for permission to print the lead photo in this article).