Team England

Welcome to Team England’s page in preparation for the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving 2019.

Information on the Commonwealth Championships:

The Commonwealth Championships for National Teams will form the elite element of the Festival, where National Teams compete to become the Commonwealth Lifesaving Champions.

The Development Championship will be conducted to develop both nations and individual competitors in the skills of lifesaving sport and future international events. Both of these overall Championships will be conducted on a point score basis.

The Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships are open to one National Team and one Development Team per nation. A team may consist of a minimum of one competitor and a maximum of five female and a maximum of five male competitors (totalling ten), in addition to any non-competitive management or coaching personnel. It is not mandatory to have both male and female competitors on a team. Teams may not increase the number of male or female competitors beyond five.

Latest News

Meet the England Team


Ben Stevens - England Team Manager

 

Ben started Beacon Lifesaving Club 9 years ago and since then has been the driving force to the clubs success. Ben has been involved in numerous Couty, Regional, National and International competitions as Competitor and Team Manager. Ben says: “I’m looking forward to working alongside some of lifesavings best coaches/athletes from England. I’m excited to be given the opportunity to create the best environment possible for the team to achieve top results.”


Gary Lee – Team Coach

 

Gary has been instrumental in developing lifesaving sport in the UK. In 1970, he won his first Life Saving gold medal and has been Crawley’s Lifesaving Sport Coach since 1977. Over this time Gary has produced numerous National Champions, British record holders, European record holders, eight World Champions and two World Record holders. He attended his first Rescue World championships in 1986 and has been involved with the England Commonwealth team for the 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2013 Commonwealth Championships.


Richard Jagger – Team Coach

 

Richard has been competing in lifesaving for the last 22 years and has competed internationally for the last 14 years. He has competed at the last five Commonwealth Championships (winning the top male for the last Commonwealth Festival) and has represented GBR at the last three major championships, winning World and European titles. Richard is looking forward to taking a slightly different role at the upcoming championships and providing as much support to the athletes as he can.


Rhianna Field - Team Coach

Rhianna has been a competitive swimmer and lifesaver from a young age, competing at county, regional and national levels. To date, her highlight was competing for her home club Beacon at the 2016 World Lifesaving Championships held in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Rhianna is studying a Sport and Exercise degree at Loughborough University and is currently on a placement year with Loughborough Sport as an Exercise Physiologist. Rhianna is currently Head Coach for Loughborough University Lifesaving Club.



Male National Team

James Blaby - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been competing in Lifesaving for 3 years. I feel proud and honoured to be representing Team England at the Commonwealth Festival. Looking forward to some tough international competition whilst also enjoying the Lifesaving Challenge element of the Championships.

Richard Jagger - Crawley Town Lifesaving Club

I have been competing in lifesaving for the last 22 years and have competed at the last five Commonwealth Championships (winning the top male for the last Commonwealth Festival) and haves represented GBR at the last three major championships, winning World and European titles. I am looking forward to taking a slightly different role at the upcoming championships.

Sam Lawman - Crawley Town Lifesaving Club / Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been competing in lifesaving for the past eight years. This is my third Commonwealth Championships competing for England. I'm stoked to be selected again, and hope defend my current 50m Manikin Carry Commonwealth Championship title. It will be an honour to represent England on the international stage once again.

Andrew Morley - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been involved with lifesaving the past 4 years. I am honoured to represent the England National Team for the second time at the Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving and am extremely excited to compete against athletes from across the globe on home turf!

Ben Taylor Walsh - Crawley Town Lifesaving Club

I have been competing in lifesaving for the past 4 years. This is my second Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships. I have also competed at two world championships for GBR. I am the British record holder in the 100m manikin carry. It's a privilege to have been selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships for the second time. Hoping we can all bring some medals back for England.



Male Development Team

Elliot Key - Beacon Lifesaving Club

I have been a member of Beacon Lifesaving Club since 2010 and have been competing since 2012. I cannot wait to compete at my second commonwealth championships so that I can test myself against some of the best lifesavers and hopefully bring back a medal!

Thomas Trebilcock - Gyllyngvase Surf Lifesaving Club

I started my lifesaving journey at the age of 7 and have competed in both Surf and Stillwater National Championships winning national titles at various ages through the years. In 2018, I  also competed in the Interclub Youth World Championship in Adelaide also for Gyllyngvase SLSC. I am excited to represent Team England and I hope this is the start of many international competitions for me and I will try my best to make Team England proud.

James Vick - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been lifesaving for 2 years and am part of the Loughborough University Lifesaving Team. I am both proud and excited to be representing England in my first international lifesaving competition.

James Warren - Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving Club

I started lifesaving after finishing my undergraduate degree, from encouragement by Richard Jagger, Matt Jagger and Sam Lawman. Fast forward 7 years and I am still doing it. I have competed mainly for Leeds Phoenix but have also competed under Blyth and recently Crawley. This will be my first Commonwealth competition, and I can't describe how excited I am to have the chance to compete under the Team England banner. It will be brilliant to be part of a team containing so many of my friends who have helped me through everything within the world of lifesaving.

Ryan Wheeler - Beacon Lifesaving Club

I have been swimming for over 16 years and competing at lifesaving for 8 years. During my first speeds, I came away with my first individual medal and that is when I found my passion for lifesaving sport.  I am excited to be part of the team so that I can represent my country and meet other lifesavers with the same passion from across the globe.


Male Reserve

Martin Schofield - Crawley Town Life Saving Club

I am Martin Schofield. I am 19 years old. I am a member of Crawley Town Life Saving Club and have been competing for over five years. I have been to two World Championships and Europeans. In the 2016 worlds  I won the line throw final in youth and in the 2018 worlds I came 5th in the open line throw final. I have also represented GB at Europeans and England at the last Commonwealth Festival competition.


Female National Team

Rachel Carrol - Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving Club/Blyth Lifeguard and Swimming Club

I’ve been lifesaving since I was 11 years old, competing this year in my 10th consecutive Speeds. My home club is Blyth Lifeguard and Swimming Club but since I moved to Leeds to University I have trained with, and represented, Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving club - where possible I alternate between clubs for different meets. I can’t wait to represent England at my third Commonwealth championships where I hope to share my international experience with the rest of my team. Let's bring home the team gold at our home championships!!

Rebecca Matthews - Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving Club

I compete for Hossegor surf lifesaving club in France while pursuing my PhD over here. I also compete for Leeds Phoenix when in the UK. I can't wait to represent the UK in my birth city. I'm very excited to participate and even more so that we are hosting the festival.

Marina Macartney - Crawley Town Life Saving Club

When I was 14, I started lifesaving in New Zealand in the ocean and beach events, as I came from a competitive swimming and athletics background. In 2010, I discovered pool lifesaving and fell in love with it. In 2018 I started racing for Crawley Town and have won many UK titles and held the British Record in the 100m Manikin Carry. To date, I have raced at 3 world champs (2014,2016 & 2018) and other international competitions for lifesaving and competitive swimming. My best achievements so far are 2 bronze medals at World Champs, World Champs A & B finals and international medals and records in Great Britain, New Zealand, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, and Slovenia. I am excited to be a part of Team England because I love lifesaving and racing amongst friends. There is so much support and the skills I have learned have helped save people’s lives.

Jayne Stallion - Heanor Swimming and Life Saving Club

My lifesaving experience first started at Heanor Swimming and Life Saving Club. I competed in my first competition at the age of four in the freezing sea at Blyth, from that point I decided to stick to the pool. I have competed in every Nationals since the age of twelve, I have been a member of the RLSS UK Performance Squad for the past nine years, competed at the Commonwealths in 2013, Australia, and competed in several World Life Saving Championships over the years. I am excited to be part of this Commonwealths specifically as England are hosting the competition and it will be a great experience to have the home crowd behind the team. We have a great team that will gel well together and hopefully we will see some fast swimming.

Amy Young - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been competitively swimming all my life but first discovered life saving when I first came to university nearly a year ago in September 2018 , and have been loving it ever since. I am excited to work together in a team with so many new people while competing in a sport which offers so much variety. I’m sure it’s an experience none of us will forget!


Female Development Team

Stephanie Cummins - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I’ve been doing lifesaving since September after joining Loughborough University, but have been swimming competitively my whole life. I’m really excited to be part of Team England and get more experience under my belt at a home championship.

Lauren Gordon - Blyth Lifeguard and Swimming Club

I have been a member of Blyth Lifeguard & Swimming Club for 8 years and have competed in many national and international competitions with my club including the last 2 world championships. I am really excited to represent my country as part of Team England, competing against elite athletes from across the commonwealth on home territory.

Emma Reilly – Warwick University Lifesaving Club

I started lifesaving back in 2012 when I joined Burton Lifesaving Club and it was here that I won my first national level medals. Through the RLSS UK Performance Squad, I competed in my first international event in 2016. Last year I joined the University of Warwick Lifesaving Club and have since competed for them in numerous university league and national level competitions. Being selected for Team England is the accolade of my lifesaving achievements to date - having the chance to compete alongside and against such talented athletes and represent, my country in the sport that I am passionate about is an opportunity that I fully intend to make the most of!

Elizabeth Scammell - Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I joined Loughborough Lifesaving 3 years ago when I came to Loughborough University and have competed ever since in BULSCA League competitions and RLSS National Speeds. I am delighted to have been selected for my first international lifesaving competition and look forward to hopefully achieving some great performances for Team England!

Amy Weston - South Worcester Lifeguard Club

I joined South Worcester Lifeguard Club at the age of 8 years old, following in my older sisters ‘wake’. In 2014 I competed at my first RLSS UK Speeds Event at Ponds Forge and found my passion! I have worked hard to perfect my skills across the board and in 2015 was selected for the RLSS UK Performance Squad, which has taken me all around Great Britain and to Holland for the Orange Cup (twice). Lifesaving has taught me many life skills, from independently travelling around the country, being part of a team and enhancing my social skills! I’m so proud to be asked to represent England at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Competition and am looking forward to the challenges ahead!


Female Reserve

Jess Bunn - Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving Club / Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club

I have been lifesaving for over six years as part of both Leeds Phoenix Lifesaving Club, where I started in 2013, and Loughborough Students Lifesaving Club also, when I started university three years ago now. I am excited to be a part of Team England and feel honoured to have been given this opportunity. I cannot wait to fully embrace the atmosphere of the team as well as the Commonwealth Festival itself.

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Author: James Soley

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