THE Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club (Rox) masters team finished second in the standings at the recent DHL Lifesaving SA Championships.

The champs, which involved competitors from the Nippers, Seniors and Masters divisions, was held in Gqeberha.

Competitors took part in pool as well as surf and sand events.

Paul Bergset, chairperson of the club, gave an insight into how the masters team performed.

“We took a small masters team to the champs and placed second in the combined ocean and pool events. The ocean events took place first where we placed third behind Fish Hoek (first) and local PE team Summestrand (second).

“The second day saw the event move to the pool where Rox placed second behind Harties Reflections and ahead of Fish Hoek to take us into an overall second place. The performance was exceptional and a direct result of some hard training over the months leading up to champs. Our coach Paul Herbert put together a strong training programme that we will now take through to World Champs later this year,” he said.

Bergset, who competed at his first national lifesaving champs in 1989, explained the importance of the Masters division.

“It is about keeping the senior membership of the club in the game and setting the example for the junior and nipper structures in the club. The club is a service to the public and we need our senior members fit and relevant to ensure we continue to keep the service of safety on the beach at the front of what we do,” he said.

Special mention goes to one of the competitors of the tournament in the open women division, Sasha-Lee Hemmens (Rox).

• To join or become a member of the Rox visit the clubhouse on Sundays (uMhlanga beachfront) from 09:00 until 10:30 to see what it’s all about or contact club secretary Lesley Lunn on [email protected].

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