Jersey life-saving team member Annette Attwell (manager), Jo Rondel, Amie Judge, Kym Kitchen, Adrian Attwell, Robert Connor, Gary Coleman, Nathan Judge, Dave MainDonald, Andy Vallois, Neil Harrison and Andy Truscott

THE Jersey life-saving team have blown the competition out of the water by winning 47 medals at the Commonwealth Life-saving Championships in Canada.

They topped the Second Division and have now earned promotion to Division I for the next event in India in 2011.

Over three days in Edmonton they competed in various events, including obstacle races, line throwing and mannekin-carrying races.

Four of the team members also had to work saving more than a dozen ‘casualties’ in a simulated emergency response. Points were awarded for speed and casualty care and the Jersey team topped their division for the event, smashing Island records and personal bests along the way.

Manager Annette Attwell and coach Andy Truscott were delighted with the successful squad of Jo Rondel, Amie Judge, Kym Kitchen, Adrian Attwell, Robert Connor, Gary Coleman, Nathan Judge, Dave MainDonald, Andy Vallois and Neil Harrison.

Adrian and Neil were the top performers – Adrian won medals in all his events, with a total of two gold and five silver, and Neil won five golds, the highest number in the team.

Mr Truscott said that they would now have a few weeks off before beginning their preparations for India. ‘We proved that we can still mix it with the top countries,’ he said. ‘We did go with the aim of getting promoted, but to pick up as many medals as we did was outstanding.

‘Training and selection will start again soon because in India we will be up against some very strong teams who have many more people to pick from.’

The team thanked the Jersey Aquatic Rescue Club for their support and also their sponsors and fund-raisers, including Les Quennevais Sport Centre staff, Vowdens Ltd, Marks and Spencer, Education, Sport and Culture, Captain Brian Nibbs, the Sir James Knott Trust, RLSS UK and Jersey Surf School.