By YASEMIN TALAT
THE Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club Annual Australia Day Swim attracted hundreds of swimmers and spectators to the bay over the weekend.
The 24th annual Australia Day Swim kicked off the first leg of the Top of the Bay Series. It will be followed by the Point Gellibrand Rotary Club’s Big Bay 3.2km swim on 23 February and the Melbourne Swim Classic 2.5km at St Kilda Beach on 1 March.
“Conditions were perfect; sunny skies, gentle waves and a perfect temperature,” club president Ian Dickson said.
Swimmers as young as 12 years old also joined the event as well as regular swimmers like former Williamstown swimmer Mark Robbins who raced in his 24th consecutive Australia Day swim.
“The Stonehenge Homes swim ran very well with many competitors enjoying the new swim course which ran from main beach past the picturesque crystal rocks, parallel to the promenade before turning out to sea for the return leg,” Mr Dickson said.
The major winners were Jeremy Drake, in the Senior Men, and Chloe Butt, in the Open Women category.
They completed the 2km swim in a time of 28.40 minutes and 29.06 minutes respectively.
Last year’s second place winners for the team swim, The Pasc team from Melbourne University, stepped up this year to claim first spot and won the major prize of $750.
The junior Nipper Swim event, catering for competitors from five to 13 years, resulted in four of Williamstown’s youngest swimmers winning the 250m and 500m categories.
Proceeds raised from the swims will be used toward training, rescue equipment and education resources for the nippers, cadets and lifeguards to keep beaches safe.
