Lifeguards from Kiama, Shellharbour, Wollongong and Shoalhaven Councils battled it out at Surf Beach last night in the Lifeguard Challenge, a five leg relay race with a runner, swimmer, board paddler, two tube swimmers and a nipper board paddler.

With a total of 10 teams competing, Shellharbour took out the first two places - their B team placing first and A team second - with the Kiama A team placing third followed by the Wollongong A team. See Brian Scott's pictures here - At the beach: The 2023 Lifeguard Challenge.

The Kiama Lifeguard who initiated the event, Blair Day, says it was a beautiful night with lifeguards ecstatic to be taking part in a race that involves the entire region.

"It was a close race with the first three teams finishing within 30 seconds of one another. 

“We were really happy to place third as we have a smaller Council than Shellharbour and Wollongong, so we did really well.

“It was a great night with beautiful conditions and a crowd of a couple of hundred people sitting up on the grass and in the Surf Life Saving Club watching on."

Mayor Neil Reilly presents the trophy to Shellharbour's Mayor, Chris Homer

Afterwards, the teams relaxed upstairs on the Club deck.

"We’d like to thank Kiama SLSC for letting us use their facilities,” Blair says.

With the ‘perfect backdrop at Surf Beach’, Blair says the Challenge will return to Kiama next year, with the hope of it growing to become the South Coast’s version of the annual Bondi lifeguard relay.