BANTHAM Surf Life Saving Club’s Youth and Nippers enjoyed their final summer training session last month under blue skies and beautiful sunshine.

Throughout the summer, they have been working hard on the beach and in the water, building confidence in surf safety and skills. Progression in training builds year on year the knowledge, skills and competence necessary to pass the Surf Lifeguard Award at 16 years old.

These life-saving skills were showcased at the Club Championships in September. Nippers aged between seven and 12 years, and Youth aged between 13 and 16 years competed on the beach and in the sea, demonstrating the extraordinary strength and diversity of skills required by lifeguards in real emergency situations.

Speed and fitness were tested initially with beach sprints, followed by Beach Flags - an explosive knock out event, which tests reaction time, strength and agility. In the sea there were wading, swimming and board events. Their run, swim, board skills and endurance were then tested to the full in an ’Iron Youth/Iron Nipper’ contest.

All participants competed both individually and as team members. Team work being essential in lifesaving, in order that rescues can be carried out with maximum efficiency and minimum delay, whilst ensuring the safety of lifeguards, working in what can be an extreme environment.

In the triumphant Youth team were: Finn Timmis, Mat Cronin, Rosie Lawrence, Tilly Wilson, Jake Smith, Ava Courtman, Sophie Bearblock, George Bush and Kathryn Wallace. Celebrating in the winning Nipper team were Sonny Courtman, Piers Mahn, Rosie Timmis, Tabitha Jenkins, Kate Lindeque, Sol Thomas, Max Payne and Daisy Womack.

Pete Lawrence, club captain, congratulated both teams and said: ‘All competitors should be very proud of their awesome efforts both during this competition and throughout summer training.

‘All of Bantham SLSC’s training is kindly made possible by the outstanding commitment from a fantastic team of volunteers - trainers, lifeguards and parents. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved during 2015.’