LONGPORT — The South Jersey Lifeguard Chiefs Association racing season will return to area beaches July 7, when the host patrol will attempt to defend its title in the 28th Longport Women’s Lifeguard Invitational.
The association is made up of 15 patrols — Atlantic City, Avalon, Brigantine, Cape May, Cape May Point, Longport, Margate, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Upper Township, Ventnor, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. Patrols from Long Beach Island and Island Beach State Park also take part in some competitions.
Competition consists of rowing, running, swimming and paddling races, some held as relays, and culminates in the South Jersey Championships and Women’s South Jersey Championships.
The Avalon Beach Patrol captured the South Jersey title last year and will host the event this year, while the Ventnor City Beach Patrol won the inaugural Women’s South Jersey Championship in 2025 and will be on their home turf once again this season.
On July 14, the Ocean City Beach Patrol will try to defend its title in the Women’s Lifeguard Invitational. Last year, the OCBP came from behind to top Sea Girt Beach Patrol with 17 points to 14. The OCBP took first place in the paddle relay and surf dash, along with second place in the run/swim relay and third place in the swim relay to claim this year’s title.
Other notable women’s races include the Bill Howarth Women’s Lifeguard Invitational and the Women’s South Jersey Lifeguard Championships. Last year they were a single competition but will be held a week apart this year.
In 2025, Sam Keough defeated her nine competitors in the singles row to secure the team victory for the VCBP with 9 points in the close contest. Sea Isle City, Avalon and Longport tied with 7 points, but the SICBP took second on the strength of its first-place finish in the doubles row; Avalon was third.
The heart of the men’s competition is the “Big Three”: The Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Races, Margate Beach Patrol World War II Memorial Lifeguard Races and South Jersey Championships.
Last year, the Brigantine City Beach Patrol won the Dutch Hoffman Memorials by scoring in five of the eight races, winning two. The LBP finished second with 16 points and the OCBP was a close third with 15, earning points in six of the events.
Race Schedule
— July 7: Longport Women’s Lifeguard Invitational, 6:30 p.m., 33rd Avenue beach, Longport
— July 10: Cape May County Lifeguard Championships, 6:15 p.m., Rambler Road beach, Wildwood Crest
— July 10: Captain Michael D. McGrath Longport Memorial Lifeguard Races, 6:30 p.m., 33rd Avenue Beach, Longport
— July 11: Pier to Pier 1 Mile Ocean Swim, run starts at 8:30 a.m, swim at 10:30 a.m., Lincoln Avenue beach, Wildwood
— July 12: T. John Carey Masters Swim, 6:15 p.m., race starts at 12th Street beach, Ocean City
— July 13: Chief Bill Kuhn Brigantine Lifeguard Invitational, 6 p.m., 17th Street beach, Brigantine
— July 13: Cape May SuperAthalon, 6:30 p.m., Second Street and Beach Avenue, Cape May.
— July 14: Ocean City Beach Patrol Women’s Invitational, 6:15 p.m., 12th Street beach, Ocean City
— July 17: Beschen-Callahan Memorial Lifeguard Races, 6 p.m., 15th Avenue beach, North Wildwood
— July 18: Sea Isle City Beach Patrol 1 Mile Ocean Swim, 11 a.m., 60th Street to 44th Street beach, Sea Isle
— July 18: Murray 1 Mile Ocean Swim, 6:00 p.m., 30th Street and the Beach, Avalon
— July 22: Cape May Point Women’s Lifeguard Challenge, 6:30 p.m., St. Pete’s beach, Cape May Point
— July 24: David J. Kerr Memorials, 6:15 p.m., 35th Street beach, Avalon
— July 24: Atlantic City Lifeguard Classic, 6:30 p.m., Albany Avenue beach, Atlantic City
— July 27: MS Six-Mile Bay Race, 6 p.m., Deauville Inn, Strathmere, Upper Township
— July 31: Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Races, 6:30 p.m., between South Jersey Beach Patrols, Lincoln Avenue beach, Wildwood
— Aug. 1: Captain Bill Gallagher Sea Isle City Beach Patrol 10-Mile Island Run, 5:30 p.m., start and finish at Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Headquarters
— Aug. 3: Brigantine South Jersey Paddleboard Championships, 17th Street beach, Brigantine
— Aug. 5: Bill Howarth Women’s Lifeguard Invitational, 6:30 p.m., Suffolk Avenue beach, Ventnor
— Aug. 6: Tri-Woods Lifeguard Championship, 6:15 p.m., Lincoln Avenue beach, Wildwood
— Aug. 7: Margate Beach Patrol World War II Memorial Lifeguard Races, 6:30 p.m., Decatur Avenue beach, Margate
— Aug. 8: Atlantic City Pageant Swim, 6 p.m., Albany Avenue beach, Atlantic City
— Aug. 9: Wildwood Navy Seal Challenge, 6 p.m., Lincoln Avenue beach, Wildwood
— Aug. 12: South Jersey Women’s Lifeguard Championships: 6:30 p.m., Suffolk Avenue beach, Ventnor
— Aug. 14: South Jersey Championships, 6:30 p.m., 35th Street beach, Avalon
— Aug. 20: Hammer Row, 6:15 p.m., Seaview Harbor beach
— Aug. 21: John T. Goudy Memorial Rescue Races, 6:30 p.m., Suffolk Avenue beach, Ventnor
— Aug. 26: Around the Island Row, 7:15 a.m., 1st and Surf Avenues, North Wildwood
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
