Displaying items by tag: Hurst

9th September 2011

Two Irish Riders Achieve Major Wakeboard First

Wakeboard history has just been made by our two most talented Irish Team Wakeboard Riders. Against the very best Wakeboard Riders in the World and also against fierce international competition for these prestigious invitations, the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation World Cup Selectors have invited Sian Hurst (Belfast) and David O'Caoimh (Dublin) to take part in the World Cup Series for the very first time. Congratulations to Sian and David on this major international recognition.

In the coming days, Sian and David will board their long haul flights from Dublin for Kuching City in Sarawak, Borneo. This will be the 31st World Cup Stop in this very successful Series. To date, it has travelled through London, Moscow, Alexandria, Singapore, Beijing, Doha, Chuncheon, Liuzhou and many other exotic venues, including Enniskillen ! The Series will finish this year in Linyi City in China immediately after the Sarawak Stop.

wakeboard girl

Sian

Sian and David have shown enormous progress in recent times. Their World Cup selection is very well deserved. They will join the current World Wakeboard Open Champions, Harley Clifford AUS and Raimi Merrit USA and will compete against a star studded line-up of 30 athletes from 20 countries. This will be by far the biggest challenge ever for any Irish Team Rider and they are well prepared for this extraordinary test.

wakeboard ireland

Sian and David

Twenty one year old Sian Hurst recently took the Gold Medal at Chill & Ride Challenge in Germany, the Silver Medal in the World Championships in 2007 and the Bronze Medal at the European Championships in 2008. She has been the Irish National Wakeboard Champions from 2007 to 2011, in spite of a knee injury last year. Seventeen year old David O'Caoimh is the reigning Irish National Wakeboard Champion, and this year alone has taken the Gold Medal at UK Wakestock and a Silver Medal at the World Championships in Italy.

David Wakeboard

David

The Kuching City World Cup Stop will be a very special experience. It will form an important part of the historical Sarawak Regatta founded in 1872. Over 400 elaborate canoes, dragon boats and long boats will have 6,000 paddlers on board ! There will be a LIVE Webcast and for those who want to share in the thrills and performances of Sian and David, here is the Link to bookmark for Saturday and Sunday, September 17th/18th. Sarawak is GMT +8hrs.

http://247.tv/waterski/freestream/2011-sarawak-wakeboard-world-cup/ <http://247.tv/waterski/freestream/2011-sarawak-wakeboard-world-cup/>

One of the organisers is Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation President, Des Burke-Kennedy, and he will be reporting back here throughout the World Cup Series as usual.

After Sarawak, David has also been invited to move on to Linyi City in China for the final World Cup Stop of the year. Sian may yet get an invitation there if anybody falls off that Entry List.

Congratulations to both Sian and David - and good luck in this amazing World Cup experience.

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Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset