Donegal senior and masters surf lifesaving teams competing at national beach championships in Waterford last weekend were faced with gale force winds and high swell which led to long delays and several changes of venue.
Despite all there were some great successes with Triona Mc Menimin taking gold in the Masters swim, rescue board and beach flags. Triona also took gold in the senior rescue board and surf ski events. In her comeback debut in national competition Lisa Anderson took silver in beach flags and a hard fought bronze in rescue board.
The standard of athleticism and technical skill at national competition has been pushed greatly with increased international completion and successes for Donegal surf lifesavers, Mc Menamin and Anderson were fresh from world championships held in Eindhoven Holland this year.
Taking on the best in the world Triona took silver in individual rescue board and the highly competitive ocean woman race and gold in board relay and Taplin relay with team Ireland. Lisa took international silver in the surf relay and joined Triona in the board rescue to take home a silver medal for Ireland.
Donegal senior ladies won through to many finals on the day but the team who had previously won the overall title on seven consecutive years were denied success on this occasion.
Sarah O Malley Daly, Ballyshannon, a veteran competitor with countless national and international successes was on form and displayed her physical and mental toughness taking three consecutive gold medals in the masters board, swim and beach flags.
Donegal masters men fell foul of the delays and harsh conditions and with massive disappointment saw all but two of their events cancelled by mid-afternoon.
Paddy Bond senior however fought hard to take silver in the senior masters rescue board race.
The team will regroup and refocus shortly to begin preparations for indoor nationals which will be held in Limerick February 2017 and will not have to travel so far for beach nationals next September as the competition will be held on home turf at Rossnowlaigh where the team will be training hard and will welcome new members who are interested in joining in training and competition.
