Wednesday, October 13, 2010

"Rescue 2010; Egypt", by LACo OL Renee Locarnini; PLUS New Photos by Nader Tharwat



Just in from LACo OL Renee Locarnini, one of TEAM USA's competitors during the recent Global Lifesaving Competition, namely, "Rescue 2010", held in Alexandria, Egypt, earlier this month of October 2010.

"To say the least this trip was a bonding experience best expressed by the team photo.

"Rescue 2010; Egypt", by LACo OL Renee Locarnini

"A little run down of the trip from my eyes... Flying into Doha, Qatar we were not so stoked to spend 17 hrs in the middle east only to be a 3 hr flight away from our final destination. Little did we know this would be for most of us the last proper shower we would have for 12 days. We arrived in Alexandria bright eyed and ready to swim, board, ski paddle, and man handle dummies while on our way to victory, but before we could fend off any challenges in the water we were met with "shock and awe," otherwise known as our accommodations. Brian Murphy saved the day with his amazing business skills or simply a clever response to "this is how we do it in Egypt." The team was then granted the accommodations we had always dreamed of... well almost.

Day one and two of the pool lasted well into the night, but our team rallied around each other with high spirits and endless jokes.
We came out of the pool in our standard placing... not so good.

Day one of the beach was delayed due to the use of only one course while the officials set out to find another set of swim cans to replace the ones a fisherman had stolen the previous night. With two courses in use the events began to fly by and one by one we found ourselves thru prelims into semis and then onto finals.

Standing on the the podium at the end of day one were Alison, Brianne, Dana, and Renee for a third place finish in the Rescue Tube Rescue Race.

(Photo by & Copyright Nader Tharwat 2010. Used here with permission.)

Looking at the next days events we knew that day two of the beach was our day to make our move. As we walked to the beach we were elated to see there was actually surf, ok sizeable wind chopped, but enough to make it difficult for some to even start the races. The team did an amazing job in all their events throughout the day. The US team stood proudly on the podium for the Board Rescue as Paul and Brian took second and for the Surf Swim. Diane Graner-Gallas showed us all how it was done winning third overall.

To say the very least this trip brought everyone closer together as depicted in this team picture, below.

"TEAM USA GONE WILD"!... on the sands of Mamoura Beach, Alexandria, Egypt. Photo by & Copyright Nader Tharwat 2010. Used here with permission.

I am so proud to have shared this crazy experience with such amazing people, but for real please lets not do that again."

Renee

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*** Many Thanks to Renee for sharing her memories of this unforgettable trip ! ***


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All Photos By and Courtesy of Nader Tharwat, from Alexandria, Egypt, and taken at last week's Rescue 2010 held in Egypt, where we were represented by TEAM USA:

Photo below shows TEAM USA all together on at the beach competition venue at Momoura Beach in Alexandria, Egypt.

(Above, L2R: Dana Elizabeth, Matt Nunnally, Renee Locarnini, Diane Graner-Gallas, Micah Carlson, Lindsay Kenney, Azad Al-barazi, Alison Riddle, Brian Murphy, Paul William Mangen, Harrison Bernstein, Dan Matta, Kicker Vencil).

Photo below shows LACo OL/TEAM USA competitor, Micah Carlson, checking out the scoreboard at the Pool Venue in Alexandria, Egypt.


Photo below shows TEAM USA GONE WILD!... on the sands of Mamoura Beach.


All photos above by Nader Tharwat. Copyright Nader Tharwat 2010. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.


*** Many Thanks to Nader Tharwat for sharing his photos with all of us! ***


10-4

"County Recurrent" News
Oct. 13, 2010.

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Rescue 2010: " US Team World Championships Report", by B. Chris Brewster

(previously posted on Oct. 10, 2010)



(Photo above courtesy of Jay Butki and Chris Brewster. Photo by and Copyright Chris Brewster 2010. Used here with permission. This photo was taken on final day of beach competition at Momoura Beach, Egypt and per Chris was taken from the announcers area He also remarked, "What is inspiring is all the flags... (and that) there were 43 national teams."

*** Just in from USLA President, Chris Brewster, from Alexandria, Egypt. ***

From: B. Chris Brewster
Subject: US Team World Championships Report
Date: October 10, 2010 3:03:31 AM PDT

The US Team, well coached by Matt Nunnally (Monmouth County), with significant organizational assistance of Jay Butki (LA County) and substantial financial support from the United States Lifesaving Association, finished 10th overall at Rescue 2010 in Alexandria, Egypt.

While there were some challenges in the pool events, Renee Locarnini (LA County) placed in two individual pool events and Kicker Vencill (LA County) in one event. US Teams also placed in the men’s line throw, men’s manikin relay, and both the men’s and women’s 4x50m obstacle relay and 4x50m medley relays.

At the beach, surprisingly, the surf was very challenging, despite this being the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, an inflatable boat used for course set-up and judging, and operated by an experienced Australian, flipped in the surf (which apparently obligates the operator to buy a “flat” of beer). Some competitors, particularly in surf ski events, struggled to get out. The surf played a big role in changes of order during the events.

The highest individual place was third by Diane Graner-Gallas (LA County) in the surf race, followed by Alison Riddle (LA County) in fourth place in the same event. Brian Murphy (LA County) placed fourth in the oceanman event, and Dan Matta (Sussex County) was fifth in the beach flags. The team of Brian Murphy and Paul Mangen (South Jersey – Ocean City) placed second in the board rescue, while the team of Brianne Jackolski (Smith Point), Renee Locarnini, Dana McCreary (Sussex County), and Alison Riddle placed third in the women’s rescue tube race; while Azad Al-Barazi (LA County), Micah Carlson (LA County), Paul Mangen, and Dan Matta placed fifth in the men’s rescue tube rescue race. Brianne Jackolski, Lindsay Kenney (Delray), Renee Locarnini, and Dana McCreary placed ninth in the beach relay.

Complete results are attached (below).

Prior to the event, after arriving from Doha, Qatar, with an overnight stay at the Intercontinental, the apartment accommodations in Alexandria were found to be less than ideal. We bought some fresh linen and a few other items, negotiated for some better apartments, and in the end, things worked out. The locals were very friendly and the cost of most meals and other provisions were extremely reasonable.

Team member Azad Al-Barazi speaks fluent Arabic. He was invaluable in communicating to help navigate some of the needs of our team and others. As an American with dual Syrian citizenship, his next major competition will be for Syria in the 2012 Summer Olympics. So it seems fair to say that we had a soon to be Olympian on our team.

The team worked well together and were very supportive of each other. They had to file a couple of protests at the beach. They won one and lost one.

There were 43 national teams, due partly to an expenditure of €10,000 by the Netherlands team to support the attendance of teams from developing nations. I think that’s a record.

In my capacity as President of the Americas Region, I had the opportunity to give out medals on the podium to Diane Graner-Gallas, Paul Mangen, and Brian Murphy. It is a very formal ceremony, with national anthem, etc.

One of the most inspiring things that happened at the event involved the Egyptian women’s beach sprint relay team. They beat the next team by a country mile; but, they were DQ’d for taking off slightly early in one of their exchanges. Sadly, it would have made no difference in the outcome, and the initial excitement of the Egyptians winning an event on their own sand was extinguished. The second place team (Australia) was given first. But on the medal stand, the Australian women called the Egyptian women up and turned over their medals to the Egyptian women. It’s lifesaving and it is good.

I should note that the Egyptian men’s team won the beach sprint relay, to wide applause. The American team did a fantastic job. They all deserve our congratulations and respect. They were great!


The next World Championships will be November 4 – 12, 2012 in Adelaide, Australia.


Lifesaving Aye,

B. Chris Brewster, President
United States Lifesaving Association

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Many Thanks to Chris Brewster for his report and Congratulations to all of our U.S. Competitors.


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10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD or USLA.

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COMPLETE RESULTS:

Place Points:

200m Obstacle Swim
VENCILL, Kicker Place: 16th; Points 1;

200m Obstacle Swim
LOCARNINI, Renee Place: 12th; Points 5;

100m Manikin Carry with Fins
LOCARNINI, Renee 10th; 7

Line Throw
CARLSON, Micah; MURPHY, Brian 15th; 2

4x25m Manikin Relay
GRANER GALLAS, Diane; KENNEY, Lindsay;
LOCARNINI, Renee; RIDDLE, Alison; 12th; 5

4x50m Obstacle Relay AL•BARAZI, Azad; CARLSON, Micah;
MANGEN, Paul; VENCILL, Kicker; 10th; 7

4x50m Obstacle Relay
GRANER GALLAS, Diane; KENNEY, Lindsay;
LOCARNINI, Renee; RIDDLE, Alison; 12th; 5

4x50m Medley Relay
AL•BARAZI, Azad; CARLSON, Micah;
MANGEN, Paul; VENCILL, Kicker; 9th; 8

4x50m Medley Relay
GRANER GALLAS, Diane; KENNEY, Lindsay;
LOCARNINI, Renee; RIDDLE, Alison; 11; 6

Surf Race
VENCILL, Kicker 9th; 8

Surf Race
MANGEN, Paul 10th; 7

Surf Race
GRANER GALLAS, Diane 3rd; 16

Surf Race
RIDDLE, Alison 4th; 14

Beach Flags
MATTA, Dan 5th; 13

Beach Flags
MCCREARY, Dana 9th; 8

Beach Sprint
MATTA, Dan 16th; 1

Beach Sprint
JACKOLSKI, Brianne 15th; 2

Surf Ski Race
MURPHY, Brian 10th; 7

Surf Ski Race
LOCARNINI, Renee 10th; 7

Board Race
MURPHY, Brian 9th; 8

Board Race
RIDDLE, Alison 14th; 3

Oceanman
MURPHY, Brian 4th; 14

Oceanman
CARLSON, Micah 11th; 6

Oceanwoman
RIDDLE, Alison 10th; 7

Oceanwoman
LOCARNINI, Renee 14th; 3

Rescue Tube Rescue
AL•BARAZI, Azad; CARLSON, Micah;
MANGEN, Paul; MATTA, Dan 5th; 13

Rescue Tube Rescue
JACKOLSKI, Brianne; LOCARNINI, Renee;
MCCREARY, Dana; RIDDLE, Alison 3rd; 16

Beach Relay
JACKOLSKI, Brianne; KENNEY, Lindsay;
LOCARNINI, Renee; MCCREARY, Dana 9th; 6

Board Rescue
MANGEN, Paul; MURPHY, Brian 2nd; 18

Oceanman Relay
CARLSON, Micah; MANGEN, Paul;
MATTA, Dan; MURPHY, Brian 8th; 10

Oceanwoman Relay
GRANER GALLAS, Diane; LOCARNINI, Renee;
MCCREARY, Dana; RIDDLE, Alison 6th; 12

TOTAL: 245

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TEAMS:

1. National Team (Australia) 800

2. National Team (New Zealand) 776

3. National Team (Germany) 534

4. National Team (Italy) 516

5. National Team (South Africa) 482

6. National Team (France) 468

7. National Team (Netherlands) 311

8. National Team (Japan) 298

9. National Team (Spain) 293

10.
National Team (USA) 245

11.
National
Team
(Great
Britain)
239
12.
National
Team
(Belgium)
158
13.
National
Team
(China)
155
14.
National
Team
(Canada)
144
15.
National
Team
(Egypt)
88
16.
National
Team
(Switzerland)
73
17.
National
Team
(Ireland)
71
18.
National
Team
(Romania)
65
19.
National
Team
(Denmark)
60
20.
National
Team
(Poland)
37
21.
National
Team
(Bulgaria)
34
22.
National
Team
(Hungary)
34
23.
National
Team
(Austria)
33
24.
National
Team
(Hong
Kong •China)
24
25.
National
Team
(Chinese
Taipei)
21
26.
National
Team
(Iran)
16
27.
National
Team
(Singapore)
16
28.
National
Team
(Slovenia)
14
29.
National
Team
(Sweden)
8
30.
National
Team
(Norway)
7
31.
National
Team
(Ukraine)
4
32.
National
Team
Croatia
1

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