Avalon Beach SLSCs 100th Anniversary Surf Swims, the 2.5 k Around the Bends swim and 1 k Avalon Beach ocean swim were hugely successful last weekend, Sunday March 23.
The two swims, part of the Pittwater Ocean Swims Series, attracted large numbers of swimmers, and had great support from club members who provided benchmark level water safety with assistance from neighbours Newport, Bilgola, Palm Beach and Mona Vale SLSCs, and Marine Rescue.
Considering the dull weather and early rain on swim day the Club was very pleased with the support of ocean swimmers and club members for this community event and fundraiser for the Surf Club in its 100th Anniversary year.
Notable results:
Newport to Avalon Beach 2.5 kilometre swim
First Overall, First Male - Greg Upton - ex Avalon Beach SLSC Nipper
Third Female - Katherine Lonngren (nee Fergus) - ex Avalon Beach SLSC Nipper and Senior Club, now at Freshwater SLSC but still calls Avalon Beach SLSC Home.
Avalon 1.0 kilometre swim
Second Overall, Second Male: Greg Upton
Fourth Overall, First Female: Katherine Lonngren
All results are available here: avalonbeachslsc.com.au/avalon-beach-ocean-swim
Director of Lifesaving Andrew Clark said
Thank you to EVERYONE who played a part in making this year’s event such a success! The teamwork, commitment, and sheer effort from every volunteer—whether on the beach, in the water, behind the BBQ, or managing logistics—was incredible to witness. It was a huge Club effort, and, in our 100th year, we truly showed what makes our Club so special. From early starts to late finishes, from setting up to packing down, from safety to registration—every role mattered, and it all came together seamlessly. While we can’t name everyone individually, please know that your hard work and support did not go unnoticed, and we can’t thank you enough for making this such a fantastic and fun event.
Special mentions in a cast of hundreds:
Volker Klemm - Event Coordinator and flawless organisation.
Andrew Clark - Coordinated a record number of water safety volunteers, ensured all were briefed, ready and kept everything running smoothly and safely.
Pete Carter and all boat crews - general knowledge, picking supplies up and organising all the boaties with Nathan Wellings who all showed up in huge numbers and did all the heavy lifting - literally...tonnes of tasks and seamless. Worked across all the beaches. Monsta!!
Alan Moran and IRB teams - organised 8 boats from our Club and some extras from Newport, Palm Beach, Bilgola Beach and Mona Vale. The work to set anchors, get the cans organised and re-set them with the winds frequently blowing them off anchor was fantastic. His whole team rocked.
Patrol members - supported in droves and we had more water safety than last year and more than all other ocean swim series races. All did a fantastic job.
Terry Barber IRB coordinator - in control and didn't seem stressed with anything - smooth operator.
First Aid team - blueys blew in from about 9:30am so about 70 treatments (mainly the second swim). Kudos to our trainers who managed this and treated affected swimmers. Michael King, Rick Mitchell, Rosemary Morgan-Smith highly visible.
Warwick Wilcoxson - managed the rescue tube crew who were waiting to help with a smile on their faces.
Steve Early, Patrol Captain - for organising his patrol team and combined patrolling and helping the swims.
Ashley Brown, Radio Officer - there needs to be a national enquiry...somehow we had enough working radios. Communications were great and no one complained they didn't get a radio. How did that happen? Nice one!
Remo Adoncello, Warren Young, Roger Sayers, Geoff Searl and Mark Heffernan - at the Bilgola Headland lookout kept an eagle eye over everyone. If there was a "300+ spotters" event, they would have won a gold medal.
Louise Lindop and Registration teams at both beaches - lots of helpers and lots of late entries and they quickly got everyone processed.
Christine Hopton - usual great MC work. You could hear Chris 500m out.
Tammy Carter - ran the canteen and SRC kids superbly well and served thousands!!!
Geoff Marles and BBQ team - had the BBQ fired up just after 6am and everyone was fed upon arrival in the dark and didn't stop cooking until 11:00am.
Surf Rescue Certificate kids (those between Nippers and Senior club age) - huge numbers and received lots of praise from everyone but most importantly Tammy, who said they were polite and helpful...rocked up from 6:30am to help which was great.
Ground crew - to everyone who turned up and helped out behind the scenes, in a myriad of small ways that all made a difference to the enjoyment factor and seamless operation.
This was the 32nd year of the Avalon Beach Ocean Swim.
Extract pages from 1992-93 Annual Report, Inaugural Avalon Beach Swim
by Roger Sayers OAM, photos by Warren Young OAM and Roger Sayers OAM:
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