(a) Members shall be eligible to contest Over 30 years events provided they have attained the age of 30 years (as at 30th September – refer Rule 2.3.2), have met the membership requirements detailed in Rules 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 and have met the patrol requirements for their membership category.
Note 1: For Masters age members the relevant award is the SLSA Bronze Medallion.
Note 2: For participation in First Aid Competition refer to Section 3.
(b) In individual events, Masters may only compete in their own Masters age group or the next youngest age category in a particular event if there are insufficient starters to conduct the event in their own age group and without prejudice to their age category in other events. Masters competitors may also compete in the Open/Senior Age category unless excluded as part of participation conditions.
(c) The Masters Individual Age Groups are as follows:
30 – 34, 35 – 39, 40 – 44, 45 – 49, 50 – 54, 55 – 59, 60 – 64, 65 – 69, 70 – 74, and 75 plus years.
Note: Competition Organisers may conduct all or some of these age categories at competitions dependent on competitor numbers. Age groupings shall be advised by way of entry circular.
(d) In Masters Team events, Masters may compete in the Open/Senior age group plus only one Masters Team age category in each event discipline conducted at a competition.
(e) Masters Teams are permitted to compete only in their own Masters Team/crew age category in which their team/crew qualify by way of ages unless there are insufficient starters. In such cases the team may compete in the next youngest Masters Team age category.
(f) The Masters Team Age Groups are as follows:
- (i) Two Person Events: The team age is determined by the age of the younger competitor and are: 30 – 34, 35 – 39, 40- 44, 45 – 49, 50 – 54, 55 – 59, 60 – 64, 65 – 69, 70 – 74, and 75 plus years.
- (ii) Three Person Team Events: Combined age of 110 years plus, 130 years plus, 150 years plus, 170 years plus.
- (iii) Four Person Ocean Team Events: Combined age of 140 years plus, 170 years plus, 200 years plus, 230 years plus.
- (iv) Four Person Pool Rescue Team Events: Combined age of 120 years plus and 200 years plus.
- (v) Surf Boat Events: Combined age of the four rowers of 160 years plus, 180 years plus, 200 years plus, 220 years plus, 240 years plus, 260 years plus. The boat sweep oarsman does not need to be a Masters Competitor but must be a proficient SLSA Bronze Medallion member and may compete in multiple Masters Age categories as the sweep oarsman. Refer also to Section 5.
- (vi) IRB Events: 35 years plus. Refer also to Section 3.
Note 1: In Masters Team events where a combined age is stated it is the age of each individual, as at the 30th September prior to the season (1st November to 30th September) in which the competition is held, added together – i.e. if a competitor turns 40 years of age during the competition season, 39 is the age used to reach combined age total.
Note 2: Competition Organisers may conduct all or some of these individual and/or team age categories at competitions dependent on competitor numbers. Age groupings shall be advised by way of entry circular.