Semi-finalists not recorded in official life saving results

Two Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club members made it to the semi-finals of the Two-Person Rescue and Resuscitation event at the Youth Carnival of the recent Australian championships.

However, their achievement was not acknowledged in results published by Surf Life Saving Australia.

In a Peninsula News report published on April 30 that was based on these results, it was stated that the club was not represented at the event.

Club member Mr Peter Lambeth told Peninsula News: "Ocean Beach had a team of two young ladies, Mercedes Newton and Mikaela Kelly, contest the Youth Carnival.

"These young women trained and competed throughout the year and made the semi-finals during the carnival.

"It was a tough competition and they scored extremely well in a really competitive field."

Surf Life Saving Australia explained the omission, saying that it focussed on the top six placegetters.

Support officer Mr Aaron Bissett said: "Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to record each and every heat result in our official results (the ones that go onto the portal).

"Therefore we place a great deal of importance in ensuring the top six place getters (those who earn competition points) are listed and correct.

"All other placings are considered nice to have but not a must and this is why Ocean Beach's results did not appear.

"Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused."

SOURCE:

Emails, 30 Apr 2019, 3 May 2019

Peter Lambeth, Ocean Beach SLSC

Website, 1 May 2019

2019 Aussies results, SLS Australia

Media statements, 3 and 7 May 2019

Aaron Bissett, SLS Australia