Teams of lifeguards are preparing to compete in Cardiff Council’s Pool Lifeguard Championships.
Six teams from Maindy, Western, Llanishen, Pentywn, Fairwater and Eastern Leisure Centres will be joined by teams from the Vale of Glamorgan and Bluestones in Pembrokeshire to take part in the inter-centre competition.
The challenge combines several different modules to test the fitness, first aid skills and life guarding ability of each member of the teams.
These include a team fitness rowing task, assessment of a first aid incident, a pool emergency incident and a team buoy rescue relay.
A trophy will be awarded to the winners of the Championships and individual trophies for competitors who achieve first, second and third place.
Organisers are looking for six of the best team mates to enter the 2011 National Lifeguard Championships.
Cardiff Council has competed at this level for the past six years and enjoyed an impeccable success rate.
The competition is run by the Institute of Sport and Recreational Management (ISRM) and the Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL).
Last year the team accomplished a commendable and well-deserved second place, closely missing out on first position to Team Birmingham.
Since the start of the National event Cardiff Council have been UK winners twice, runners up twice and finished in third place twice, making the Council one of the best training teams in the UK.
They aim to return in 2011 to challenge for the title of UK champions.
Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Judith Woodman said: “The Pool Lifeguard Championships organised by Leisure Services has been hugely successful in promoting the importance of our lifeguards and the valuable role they play in the community.
“The skills and competency that they have gained from a high level of training makes them an asset to our pools and leisure centres in Cardiff and I wish them all the best success for the competition.”
The event takes place at Pentwyn Leisure Centre on Saturday, April 9.
