uMhlanga lifesavers aim for top spots at national championships

TWO Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club (Rox) members hope to make an impact at this year’s DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Club Championships in Gqeberha.

Tatum Botha (17) and Nicolette Challenor (17) will compete in the junior beach and stillwater events at the champs and hope to make their club proud.

The Rox team is currently being trained by Tatum’s dad, Dylan, a former Protea lifesaver and national surf champion.

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“I’m super excited to get going as Covid restrictions last year meant there has not been a lifesaving champs since 2019. In the meantime, I’ve mainly focused on my swimming, but as the champs have gotten closer, I’ve put in extra work for my lifesaving. My goal is to go to Australia next year to compete in the Nutri-Grain Lifesaving series, which would be a fantastic opportunity,” Botha said.

She will compete in the four events (beach and stillwater) including run/swim/run, board and the obstacle race.

“For the obstacle pool race, my aim is to go for the SA record for the juniors. Overall I would love to finish with podium positions but I will take it one event at a time. My brother, Connor and my dad are huge inspirations for me and I really want to emulate their success at nationals.” she said.

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Botha added she felt the Rox team has the potential to bring home a few medals at the nationals.

Fellow teammate, Nicolette Challenor said this rings true.

“I specialise primarily in beach events and in particular, the sprints. I’ve been involved in the sport of lifesaving since I was 10 so my goal going into the champs is to finish in the top three of all my events. That would be my biggest goal. We may have a smaller contingent of junior lifesavers that will compete in Gqeberha but I feel we have a great chance to medal,” Challenor said.