Fernmount athlete wins gold at Surf Life Saving championships

PETER Allison has returned home with a swag of medals from the Surf Life Saving Australian Pool Rescue Championships in Adelaide.

The Fernmount resident won five gold medals, and broke two Australian records and one world record in an outstanding meet.

The 78-year-old proved once again to be one of the best of his age in the world, after previous medal winning performances on the world and national stage.

Held at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in August, the National Championships attracted over 400 competitors whose ages ranged from 75yrs-plus to under 12s.

These life savers represented over 60 clubs from across the nation and overseas.

Peter began the meet by winning the gold medal in the 75yrs+ 100m obstacle race, and shortly afterwards combined with Kurrawa SLSC team mate Phil Dutton to contest the 70yrs+ line throw relay.

The pair have held the 60yrs+ Australian record of 16.94 seconds since 2019, and didn’t disappoint by smashing the national 70yrs+ record by 7.13 seconds, recording a winning time of 18.45 seconds.

Whilst the pair won gold in this event at last year’s World Life Saving Championships in a time of 18.93 seconds, they bettered that world record time by 0.48 seconds to record a new Australian and World record time, which is to be ratified in September by the world governing body.

Day two of the Championships saw Peter win the 75yrs+ 100m manikin tow with fins, followed by his Australian record-breaking time of 1.07.32 in winning the 75yrs+ 50m manikin carry.

Peter won gold again on day three, this time in the 75yrs+ 100m manikin carry with fins.

In three four-person 200 yrs+ relay events, he was part of a team with three other club mates who recorded 7th, 5th, and 5th placings in the finals of the 4x50m obstacle race, the 4x25m manikin carry, and the 4x50m medley.

Peter Allison is set to return to Adelaide for next year’s Surf Life Saving Australian Pool Rescue Championships.

By Aiden BURGESS