The Crawley Town Life Saving Club has been reward for its record breaking performances over recent years with 15 of its members being selected to represent their country at the following two major international championships;
Great Britain will be sending both Youth and Open teams to the fore coming European National Team Championships being held during September at the magnificent sports complex in the coastal resort of Riccione on the eastern side of Italy. Each team will consist six female and six male members and compete in over 30 events, half held in a Olympic Pool and half off the Adriatic beaches.
Crawley’s only youth selection Alex Armstrong will be making his first appearance in a GBR cap. Likewise also gaining his first cap in the Open Men’s team will be Sam Lawman. Internationally experienced Marina Macartney will be teaming up with team mate Zara Williams current world 50m Carry and 100m Rescue Medley champion for both National and club team championships. Crawley Town coach Gary Lee will once again be the GBR Pool Coach.
The RLSS Commonwealth Festival of Sport taking place during November in Leeds John Charles Olympic pool will involve only Open competitors competing in both National and National development teams championship. Each team will feature five female and five male lifesavers. Representing the National Team will be Marina Macartney, Richard Jagger, Sam Lawman, Ben Taylor Walsh, and Andrew Morley while representing the National Development team will be James Warren with Martin Schofield substitute for both the National and National Development teams. Gary Lee has returned as head coach with Richard supporting him in this role.
Ladies Commonwealth Ladies champion Zara Williams has elected to represent Wales on this occasion. Luisa Petra and Alex Jackson will also be representing Scotland and Wales respectively while Oba Waiyaki will once again be captaining the quickly improving Kenya team.
Meanwhile locally the Lopez brother and sister pairing of Iker and Amaia continue to develop their competitive skills when taking silver at the South East Region Junior Pair Championships. Their next challenge will be even more demanding when they compete in September for a place at the National Life saving finals in the Senior Boys category.
The Crawley Town Life Saving Clubs goal is to turn bystanders into life savers and for those of a competitive nature into International swimmers, so all are welcome to join them at the K2 on a Tuesday evening from 8.00pm to 10.00.
Gary
CTLSC Competition Manager