South Africa pip hosts to win African Lifesaving Championship title in Egypt

Lifesaving South Africa's national squad showed their class in the water to claim first place overall and pip their Egyptian hosts at the 2022 Lifesaving Africa Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.

The championship event was preceded by the second African Drowning Prevention Conference, as the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving Federation (EDLF) welcomed its African counterparts under the slogan: 'Africa United to Stop Drowning'.

With a relatively inexperienced squad, South Africa dominated the water events and finished the championships with a combined total of 500 points. Hosts Egypt finished second on 468 points and Morocco claimed bronze with 410 points.

The Egyptians were exceptionally strong on the sand and their male squad dominated the Beach Flag event, with five finishing in the top six. Their strategy to target the South African team paid dividends in the end, but Chevan Clarke's immense talent shone brightly to make the final and finish a credible second.

The South African women were full value in the Beach Flags, with Ellen Kleinsmit taking the final flag to pip Hala Sedky Aly of Egypt. Meanwhile, Nicolette Challenor, Chelsey Cooke and Celina Isaacs all finished in the top six.

Although Morocco and Egypt caused several headaches for South Africa in the Beach Sprint individual races, the Proteas were dominant in the Beach Sprint Mixed Relay, where they claimed gold.

In the Surf Race, the men gave a good account of themselves, but the women stole the show as Kristin Bellingan and Tatum Botha finished first and second, respectively.

The talented duo was unstoppable in the Run-Swim-Run and the Board Race, with Bellingan winning both and Botha a close second to her compatriot. Their efforts in the context of the accumulative