Decades of Dedication Pays Off for Barwon Heads

The club has spent years building a strong IRB program, led by coach and lifesaver Jake Pownall and Club President Matt Burke. Their focus has helped develop skilled competitors, reliable patrol members, and future leaders. 

This year, all that hard work paid off at the Australian IRB Championships in South West Rocks. The club finished third in the Under 23 competition and fifth in the Open division. 

"The success of this team has come from years of hard work within the club", said Jake.  

"By instilling a fantastic culture, our members have been able to sustain the training and competing loads needed to accomplish what we have this year."  

Jake has been involved in lifesaving for decades. He earned his Bronze Medallion at Ocean Grove SLSC in 1997 and has competed ever since. He started racing IRBs with Matt in the late 1990s and joined the 13th Beach team in 2015. 

Now, their focus goes beyond just competition results.

The club's IRB program has grown a lot. Over 30 members went to the national championships, and many were chosen to represent Victoria in interstate events. 

The team now includes both experienced competitors and new athletes making their national debut. 

Jake credits the club's culture and strong coaching as the main reasons for the program's success. 

"Our club has become an attractive club for competitors because of that culture and also having top-level coaches who know how to get the most out of IRB teams," he said.  

Matt believes the program helps support patrol operations by developing members who contribute both in competitions and on the beach. He and Jake have worked together to create a pathway that keeps members involved and growing their skills. 

With strong participation, experienced mentors, and new talent joining the team, Jake feels positive about the future. 

"Our club is in a really good position to have a successful few years at the top level of IRB competition. We are very excited to see what the future has to hold for this team," he said. 

To add to the victory, the Victorian team came third in the Interstate competition. 

Congratulations to the 13th Beach Barwon Heads IRB team and the 187 Victorian competitors who proudly represented their clubs at the Australian IRB Championships.