Today was just another day of competition. This morning we woke up early. We played our favourite songs though my computer. Claire, Hayley, Tahni and I joked around as we packed our bags for the carnival. Today was day 2 of the Victorian State Life Saving Championships for 2011. We were all excited but for me it felt like just another carnival.
The championships were held at Lakes Entrance. Juniors and seniors came together on the same beach. With bags packed and dressed in green and white we began the walk to the beach. The pilgrim we called it. Competitors, nippers, coaches, mums and dads made their way to the beach. Moving as one along the boardwalk, across the bridge, over the hill and onto the beach. The calm morning was quite but the atmosphere was certainly buzzing. The sunrise was picture perfect red, pink orange and yellow.
Beach flags are by far and above my favourite event. The finals first up on today’s program. The sun got hot quickly as we warmed up. Or perhaps we were preparing to do battle against the seven other competitors. I watched on as the age finals took place before us. Fellow competitors and friends fighting it out, winning in glory, others losing, shatteringly devastated in their performance. I absorbed the mixed emotions and attempted to harness the good. Instill confidence in my ability. This is my event, I have proved it to myself this year and today would be not different.
The girls and I marshaled at the bottom of the track. Anglesea had strength in numbers, as we always do. But there were only six of us today. This meant it would require only five run offs to become the champion. Before long we were underway. There seemed so many feelings and thoughts racing though my mind. Concentration the key, focus the challenge. Elimination one by one and before I knew it we were down to just two. My sister and favourite friend were now in a position of fierce rivalry. Claire and I, would battle it out. Only one of us could win.
I drew lane one. Id had one turn in this lane already, it didn’t seem quite right. Blocking those thoughts, I told myself it was the winning lane. I was confident and focused. We prepared the cool sand and took up our positions. We could have been the only two on the beach. Silence and stillness fell around us as we awaited the start. The blast of the whistle was the reaction queue. Powering my body into action. I snapped up and turned to face the flag. Racing out of the blocks, shoulder to shoulder. I should have been clean if front but my turn had been sluggish. Panic set in as I attempted desperately to turn it into power and speed. We launched for the flag in a fight of our bodies. My hand reached out and closed in around the flag. Was it there? The sand fell away and I felt the rubber hose. I clenched on with my entire mite. We came up together neither of us wanting to let go. The judges consulted as we waited for an outcome. A re run was called.
Playing it out all over again. My feelings were strange. Anxious and scattered I made my way up to the line. The familiar voice from the sideline stood out amongst all others. Vans words were a blessing and set my mind at ease. Back to the concentration and focus. This time it would be mine. My turn was spot on and I was out in front, I had it. Launching for the flag, she came powering over me. I looked down at the flag her hands had it too? Where had she come from? Again the judges consulted. We waited in confusion. Approaching us they explained the situation. They believe my hands had grabbed the baton first, I was declared the winner in a strange series of events. Claire had thought she had the flag clear in the first run off and was disappointed with the decision. This wasn’t the same winning feeling. There was a lesson learnt proving a warning for me. Four weeks out from the Australian Championships at Kurrawa.
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