County Recurrent: Taplin 2016

Dateline: Saturday nite, August 6, 2016 at the Hermosa Beach Pier...

Just north of the Hermosa Beach Pier is the 13th St. lifeguard tower where we said hello to OL/Attorney At Law, Greg Crum, on duty, in the middle of the afternoon on our pre-event reconnaissance and off duty swim out to the course buoys...

*** Video Alert !

Welcome to the Taplin Relay: The Video

https://youtu.be/U0q0EMK-amw

And yes, below, 2nd from left, that IS the recently retired OLS, Brian Merrigan, back at work helping out as an "official" for the ISF...

Veteran OL's and JG Instructors, below, W2R, Chuck Locko and Steve Contarsy...

U.S. Coast Guard Demo is about to start as it is 7 pm...

*** Video Alert ! ***

Coast Guard & Baywatch Demo: The Video

https://youtu.be/DGUpwiB2rHs

Below, the start of the Junior Lifeguard "A" Taplin Relay (consisting of one swimmer, a runner, a paddler, and a final runner to the finish line...)

Below, the final runner for the winning JG Taplin Team makes the right shoulder turn around the lane pole and heads for the finish line uncontested!...

VIPS and Officials in attendance...

Men's Beach Flags is about to start...

... meanwhile the Aussie Taplin Team from Half Moon Bay in Victoria arrive with their dory...

... and then it's down to the two finalists... OL Pat Jacobson, at right below, and a competitor from the State of Calif. team...

*** (Amateur) Video Alert ! ***

• The Two Finalists In The Beach Flags: The Video (Full Disclaimer: the videographer screwed up the finish... so we have to confirm in writing here that Pat won!)

https://youtu.be/_e8m_Y3eeAU

Team Zuma in the two photos immediately below... just before the start of the Taplin Relay!...

*** Video Alert ! ***

Reconnaissance of 2016 Taplin Teams: The Video

https://youtu.be/sjUuyDWjkLI

And then the main event, the Taplin Relay, begins with the swimmers going first!...

Below, the third swimmer for the LACo Central Section Taplin team, OL Charlie Patch, smokes the field and establishes a huge lead for his team!...

Below, the fourth and final swimmer for the LACo So. Section Taplin Team, OL/Rookie, Kelsey Cummings, hits the water in second...

meanwhile, the third swimmer for the So. Section team, OL Hogan Inschore, is exhausted and catches his breath on his back!...

In a exceptional display of friendship and sportsmanship, Central Section swimmer, Charlie Patch, comes over and shows his affection and support for his friend and colleague, Hogan Inscore, admiring his effort!...

(note: Hogan recovered nicely and was observed rehydrating with his teammates a short time later...)

And going into the paddleboards, it's Central in the lead... with So. Section in second, and Zuma in third...

Out of the water first, however, after the first paddlers, is So. Section OL Shane Gallas!...

Below, OL Tyler Contarsy hands off to Central Section second paddler, Toby Contarsy...

meanwhile, the fourth and final paddler for Zuma, Blake Hubbell, below, in the green jersey awaits his turn...

The fourth and final paddler for So. Section, OL Brian Murphy, runs to the water for his turn...

So. Section prepares its dory....

Below, OLS Mike Murphy, the third paddler for Central Section, returns to shore...

(note: in a not so coincidental moment... as Mike was paddling toward shore inside the surfline, his little brother Brian was paddling out through the surf and they were but a foot or two apart as they passed each other...)

Team Zuma prepares its dory...

Below, Brian Murphy finishes his paddleboard leg and tags the first dory team rower...

First in the water with their dory, below, is So. Section!...

Below, Central Section's final paddler, OLS Chad Carvin, returns to shore in second place...

Below, the Central Section's first dory hits the water in second position about a half lap behind So. Section...

Below, the Aussies first dory team hits the water!...

some dory carnage...

Below, Team Zuma makes an exchange...

The Aussies head toward shore for an exchange...

*** Video Alert ! ***

So. Section Dory Exchange: The Video

https://youtu.be/zl2Ht5wKbJw

Below, So. Section dory man, Capt. Tom Seth, hands off to OL Jeff Lombardo for the final dory boat leg to be rowed by Lombardo and Mel Solberg...

And the winner of the 2016 Taplin Relay is...

*** Video Alert ! ***

Southern Section Taplin Team Victory: The Video

https://youtu.be/6YMzutRu7PE

Below, OL Mel Solberg, crosses the finish line sealing his team's victory and his 18th Taplin Bell Victory!...

Below, Central Section secures its dory after their second place finish!...

Below, Team Zuma secures its dory after their Third Place Finish!...

Below, So. Section continues their victory celebration...

*** Video Alert ! ***

So. Section 2016 Taplin Team Photo Op: The Video

https://youtu.be/Bor-Q5Ym4dE

Below, a requested photo op of seven of the So. Section 2016 Taplin Team Rockstars... who all swim for the same south bay masters swim team... their training and fitness shows! Per Jeff Hart: "LAPS Swim Team really represented at Taplin. 7 of the 16 members of South Bay Taplin Team all train at Los Angeles Peninsula Swimming." L2R: Kevin Fink, Ryan Bullock, Jeff Hart, Kelsey Cummings, Mike O'Donnell, Hogan Inscore, and Mel Solberg. All four of the So. Section swimmers are included, e.g., Kevin, Ryan, Kelsey and Hogan. So the moral of the story for swimmers is that if you want to make the taplin team you need to swim masters...