IRB Champs 2022

The 2022 IRB season was one with many challenges. The team once again was a dominant force with solid performances winning all carnivals throughout the year. With a carnival cancelled and the state titles delayed twice due to poor weather and unsafe condition we finally concluded the season last Sunday at Sorrento. These delays unfortunately led to some key team members being absent from the big day. The team was forced to mix up most of their crew combinations to field the team and this is not an easy thing to do and perform our skills at the levels we strive to be at. Going into the states the main focus was about working together, supporting your teammates and making sure you were doing everything you could to help your teammate succeed. In a team sport like this it’s all about making your way through heats, semis and getting the opportunity to gain points for the club in finals. Every position in a final count for points to achieve the ultimate goal of team success. After that it was simply time to go and “do what we do”.

With flat conditions at Sorrento, it was always going to be tight racing so to execute a race plan to perfection was the key. We had good competition from our friends at Scarboro who in many races took the challenge right up to us. To the team’s credit they were up for the fight and responded in the best way possible. On the way to claiming the team’s 6^th consecutive state championship the team managed to win 7 of the 9 events. A result that was not expected with the build up and a true credit to how the team adapted on the day.

The final points score was

Mullaloo 91

Scarboro 63

Quinns Mindarie 7

Sorrento 3

Thanks need to go to our “super managers” Laurie DeMamiel and Carlo Tenaglia for running the team on carnival days. Their organization and ability to coordinate a team of 26 to a fast passed event like this is not an easy task and they do it so well.

To all our officials who consistently support us officiating on the beach and in the water. We have easily the biggest contingent of officials at these carnivals and on behalf of the whole team we thank you for all your efforts.

We have always had a great supporter base to once again thanks to all the supporters who help us perform by assisting at the carnivals with set up and pack up, making soup, driving patient boats and filling the carnivals with a great atmosphere.

Finally, to the team, be proud of the year. We achieved our goals in results but most pleasing was to see another year of younger members develop into new roles within the team. The future will continue to be successful if we keep on this track and I welcome any member who is interested to become a part of this team to make yourself known and you will be welcomed into the fold. This team offers a bit more to its members that just to race little inflatable boats around a set of cans at speed and that is its biggest asset to its members and to our club.

Congratulations to our State Champions and medal winners.

Gold

Open Mixed Relay– Clayton Millar, Liam Rogers, Rochelle Villemin, Ashlyn Bulley, Caylin Robey, Ethan Rapley, Teagan Cheshire, Emmet Grimes, Todd Bartle, Jayden Millar, Conan Millar, Ryan Robey, Aimee Honor, Megan Bulley, Annika Rasmussen, Ebony Millar

Female Mass Rescue– Megan Bulley, Annika Rasmussen, Aimee Honor, Corey Bartle

Male Rescue– Cam Rapley, Todd Bartle, Rochelle Villemin

Female Rescue–  Megan Bulley, Ebony Millar, Corey Bartle

Male Teams Rescue– Cam Rapley, Todd Bartle, Emmet Grimes, Robbie Payne, Megan Bulley, Rochelle Villemin

Female teams Rescue– Megan Bulley, Ebony Millar, Ash Bulley, Caylin Robey, Ethan Rapley, Liam Rogers

Male Tube Rescue– Conan Millar, Max Smith, Corey Bartle

Silver

Female Mass Rescue– Ash Bulley, Caylin Robey, Ethan Rapley, Jayden Millar

Female Rescue– Ash Bulley, Caylin Robey, Ethan Rapley

Male Teams Rescue– Jayden Millar, Corey Bartle, Ryan Stacey, Ryan Robey, Ethan Rapley, Annika Rasmussen

Female Tube Rescue– Megan Bulley, Caylin Robey, Corey Bartle

Bronze

Male Mass Rescue– Cam Rapley, Todd Bartle, Corey Bartle, Ethan Rapley

Female Teams rescue– Rochelle Villemin, Teagan Cheshire, Annika Rasmussen, Aimee Honor, Corey Bartle, Jayden Millar

Female Tube Rescue– Ash Bulley, Annika Rasmussen, Jayden Millar

Male Tube Rescue– Todd Bartle, Robbie Payne, Megan Bulley.

Photographs from the event here.