Area lifeguards honed their skills at the fourth annual Deal Invitational Life Guard tournament, held July 31 at the Deal Beach, in the Conover Pavilion and Deal Casino bathing facilities.
Women and men lifeguards from Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club, Loch Arbour Village, Deal and Ocean Beach Club, Elberon competed in several events to test and challenge their lifeguard skills.
Monmouth Beach took first place in the Run-Swim-Run, Rescue Line Pull, and Female Beach Flags.
Loch Arbour, with the help of a few lifeguards from the Allenhurst Beach Club, took first place in the Paddle Board-Kayak-Paddle Board relay.
Deal’s combined beaches took first place in the Beach/Ocean Dash and the Ocean Beach Club took top honors in the highly competitive Male Beach Flags.
According to organizers, “Overall, everyone had a great time as lifeguards usually do while spending time at the beach with fellow lifeguards.”
The guards offer special thanks to the sponsors of the tournament: R + R Tile and Remodeling, Long Branch; Grateful Deli, Loch Arbour; ABC Beach Supplies, formerly Spell Binders located in the Shore Antique Center in Allenhurst; The Bar Room, Deal; Katin Construction, Long Branch; Peaceable Kingdom, Neptune and Hoagitos, West Long Branch.
Tournament Director, Jim Foley who is the Deal Historian, thanked long time lifeguards who served as official judges for the tournament; Danny Chen, John Arcomano, John Kelly, and the legendary, Bryan Gleason.
Foley also reminds everyone to always swim near a lifeguard.
