ATHLETES of the Warnadoone Surf Lifesaving Club displayed tremendous sportsmanship at the South African Surf Lifesaving Championships in Gqeberha earlier this month.

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Club captain Douglas Benton proudly said 14 of their members enthusiastically represented the club at the event, showing off the club’s sportsmanship and team spirit.

“With a relatively small squad, finishing just outside the top 10 in the country is an achievement to be proud of and a solid foundation to build upon in the seasons ahead. These results reflect the strength of our team culture, as well as the work and effort put in by the athletes,” said Benton.

Tiffany Koch, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, placed second in the open female beach run, third in the open female board race and second in the open female single ski. Together with fellow club athlete, Deirdre Bentley, the two placed second in the open female double ski.

A month before the event, she competed at the SA Canoe Sprints in Pretoria. She expressed her love for being in the ocean and said that lifesaving has always been close to her heart. She has been a part of the club for 12 years.

She added, “Last year my full focus was on the Olympics, which is extremely tough both mentally and physically. Canoeing is an extremely challenging sport and there is no getting lucky, while I’d say lifesaving does have an element of luck with the ever-changing surf conditions. This year, I have been enjoying mixing it up in the sports I compete in with no pressure.”

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