Rescue and Resuscitation at
Freshwater SLSC

R&R is a traditional competition based on the simulated rescue & resuscitation of a patient from the surf using the traditional belt and reel. It combines swimming, resuscitation skills and drill with teams judged against set criteria. It & the surf race are the only events which have been held continuously since the commencement of surf carnivals in the early 1900’s.

The event

There are three different forms of the event –

• 2 person (mixed sexes U10 – U13 )
• 5 person (mixed for ages U12 –U14, U15, U17, U19, U23 & Open), Open Women & Open Men
• 6 person (Open Mixed).

 

Competitors need to perform different roles depending on their position within the team. Swimmers need to have moderate to strong swimming ability. Non-swimmers should have moderate fitness levels. Competitors in the 2 person & U12 – U15 5 person events are not required to swim.

In other 5 person events, there are two swimmers. One plays the role of a patient which involves swimming to a set of buoys. The swim is not a race. The other swimmer plays the role of the rescuer which involves swimming to their patient pulling the surf belt. The swim is a timed race against other belt swimmers. The line is paid out by other team members on the beach.

The six-person event has in addition to the patient & belt swimmer another swimmer who is required to swim to the patient using a rescue tube. This is also a timed race against other tube swimmers.

History of R&R

From the beginning of the surf lifesaving movement until the mid-1980s, the R&R drill formed the basis of the bronze medallion assessment. All would-be bronze medallion holders were required to show proficiency in each of the positions in the 6 person drill.

While no longer part of the bronze medallion assessment, R&R competition has continued to be held at surf carnivals throughout Australia. It is one of only two events that have been held at every Australian Surf Championships since their inception – the other being the surf race.

Originally the only event available was the 6 person, with each competitor’s position in the team determined by a ballot. This meant each of the team members needed to be a strong swimmer in order to be able to swim in the belt. The vast majority of surf race and belt race champions from the past were also members of club R&R teams.

Nowadays the requirement to draw for positions is somewhat limited. Competitors in the 2 person event draw for their positions (patient & rescuer) as do those in the 6 person event (belt swimmer & rescue tube swimmer in one draw and reel operator, 1st linesperson/cardiac compressions and 2nd linesperson/resuce breaths in another). Competitors in the 5 person events as well as the patient in the 6 person are in pre-determined positions.

Though the belt and reel are no longer used in modern lifesaving, the R&R event has continued to be a popular team sport. The two person event is particularly popular for the younger competitors. As the resuscitation element of the event essentially reflects the technique required for both the Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion awards, participants are able to transfer the skills they learn from the event to their training for each of these awards.

R&R at Freshwater

Historical

The club has a long history in R&R and has enjoyed considerable success over the years. From the beginning of inter-club competition, Freshwater has fielded R&R teams in local and championship carnivals with its first State Gold coming in the 1943-44 season. Since then, the club has won numerous Branch, State & Australian Championships as well as minor places and has had teams qualify for many State & Australian finals.

The club has a strong history in women’s competition with the club fielding teams in a variety of events from the 1980s. Over the years, the club has enjoyed particular success in the women’s competition with a variety of minor places being won at both Australian and State level together with multiple Branch championship victories. In 2012 the club’s Open 6 Women’s team became the first all-female team to make the Australian final of that event, a feat they repeated in 2013 & 2014.

In more recent times, the club has won the Australian Championship in the following events –

• Open 6 person 2009, 2016, 2019, 2021& 2023;
• Open 5 Men’s 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019 & 2024;
• Open 5 Women 2018 & 2019;
• Open Mixed 2013, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 & 2025;
• Under 19 2012 & 2013;
• Under 17 2011.

 

The club won the Ron Sandstrom Trophy for the most successful R&R club at the Australian Championships in 2011 and has been runner up 9 times. Freshwater is the only club to have won all possible R&R events from U17’s to Opens at Australian level.

The club has enjoyed similar success at State and Branch level, with all teams winning the NSW Championship and minor medals across a range of events. The Open 6 Person team has been particularly successful, winning 10 times over the past 17 years and finishing 2^nd four other times.

 

Present day

For the 2025/26 season the club will be fielding teams in the Open 6, Open Men ‘s and Open Mixed events. It is particularly keen to field teams in the junior events. R&R is one of the few competition events which allow family members to compete with each other at all levels. While competitive success remains important, the main focus of the club’s R&R section is the dual concepts of “team” and “having fun”.

We are still keen to get more people of all ages involved and welcome any new comers to the event.

Fitness, training and competition

Fitness

If you are a swimmer, you need to be a moderate to strong swimmer depending on whether you undertake the patient or belt/tube positions. For non-swimmers, at the very least a moderate level of fitness is required to cope with the physical demands of reel & line work & patient carries.

Training

While the training demands for each team will vary according to individual coaches & the personal commitments of the participants, you can expect to train at least once per week for 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Competition

Nipper events (U10 – U14) are generally conducted at senior carnivals as part of the wider R&R program. This leaves younger competitors free to compete in other events at nipper carnivals. State & Australian Youth championships may give rise to some clashes but these are generally resolved through arrangements made by sectional liaison officers

At local senior carnivals there may be some clashes with other events from time to time. Branch R&R events are traditionally held on a different day to the main carnival, so no clashes arise. At State and Australian Championships clashes again may arise. The capacity to do both R&R & other mainstream events will depend on sectional liaison officers being able to resolve any clash.

If I do R&R can I compete in other events as well?

At local carnivals, generally you can though there will inevitably be some clashes from time to time. For branch championships, the R&R events are traditionally held on a different day to the main carnival so no clashes arise. At State and Australian Championships clashes again may arise and your capacity to do both R&R and other mainstream events will depend largely on the timetable and the ability or willingness of sectional referees to accommodate those clashes.

For nippers, there are generally no clashes at local carnivals with the possible exception of the iron person events. State championships inevitably give rise to some clashes but in the past, most R&R competitors have been able to meet their commitments to other events through arrangements made with sectional liaison officers.

Take part!

Our members enjoy access to a wide range of surf sports both for fun and for serious competition. Join today!