by Adam Sandler
ISF media
The LA County Southern ‘A’ team, composed of lifeguards who work the beaches in Manhattan, Hermosa, and El Segundo, won the International Surf Festival 2021 Judge Irvin Taplin Medley Relay, Saturday evening at the Hermosa Beach pier.
The Taplin features four swimmers, four paddlers and four dory boat crews. The Southern “A” team swimmers jumped out to an early lead, and the rest of the team never relinquished it. The four swimmers included Ryan Bullock, and Kelsey Cummings, who won the Dwight Crum Two-Mile Pier to Pier Swim the following morning.
Four LA County teams, teams from five outside lifeguard agencies, and the first-ever “Women’s All-Stars” competed.
Also on Saturday night, the Chris Linkletter Women’s Surf Relay returned for its third year. Female teams from LA County, as well as from Pt. Mugu, Crystal Cove, Long Beach and Orange County Lifeguards participated.
2021 ISF Taplin Bell champions
Swimmers: Kevin Fink, Kelsey Cummings, Pat Jacobson, and Ryan Bullock
Paddlers: Jake Miller, Shane Gallas, Chris Maloney, and Brian Murphy.
Dory Crews: Vince Flamengo and Tom Swift; Greg Crum and Mike Wurzel; Mike O’Donnell and Micah Carlson; and Tom Seth and Jeff Lombardo. ER
