Beach2Beach 2023 + The Newport Community Festival
photographs by Michael Mannington OAM, Community Photography
On Sunday August 27th this year, the iconic Beach2Beach Charity Fun Run and Festival celebrated its 29th year of raising much needed funds for fabulous local charities on Sydney’s northern beaches. Organised by the Rotary Club of Brookvale, over those 29 years, the event has raised over $3.5 million dollars for wonderful organisations including Life Education Australia, Northern Beaches Interchange (NBI), Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches, Without A Ribbon, Bear Cottage, OneEighty and Sunnyfield.
Teams also run as part of the Beach2Beach raising funds for local organisations, clubs and causes.
The event has three course options, catering for everyone from serious runners to families – 13km from Dee Why Beach to Newport Beach; 6km from Warriewood to Newport Beach; and 3km from Mona Vale to Newport Beach. This is undoubtedly Sydney’s most scenic fun run, taking in many of the spectacularly beautiful beaches in the north of Sydney.
A huge Family Festival called the Newport Community Festival is held at the Newport Beach finish line with live music, a licensed bar area, international food options and plenty of fun rides and games for children.
Background
Initiated by Hotel Proprietor Mark Bayfield and his family, the original Pub2Pub route ran between the family’s Dee Why Hotel, along Pittwater Road, to what was then The Newport Arms. “The Bayfield Family is very proud that the Beach2Beach is a major legacy we’ve left on the Northern Beaches, embraced by the community every year and raising much needed funds for some vitally important charities. “I’m extremely pleased that over the last decade, Brookvale Rotary has made it their major fundraising event and that the Beach2Beach was ‘reborn’ with the help of Cameron Bayfield, by introducing an amazing coastal course to avoid any main roads issues.
“Our whole family looks forward to seeing the Beach2Beach continue for many years to come. It will be nice to be able to tell the grandkids why they’re running in their 1st Beach2Beach in years to come.” – Mark Bayfield, Race Founder
Today the Beach2Beach Team is led by a group of passionate Rotarians who believe this event is a great way to give back to those less fortunate, while hosting the most popular participation event on the northern beaches. The whole Team volunteers both time and skills with no financial benefit to themselves, some working all year round to ensure a successful annual event. The Beach2Beach / Rotary Club of Brookvale relationship was initiated by Michael Olofinsky who was instrumental in evolving the event to its great standard today. For the last few years, organisers Phil Jackson and Robert van Geest have worked alongside an incredibly enthusiastic team, who make the Beach2Beach so successful.
In 2023 1, 245 completed the 13 k run, 895 completed the 6 k run and 481 completed the 3 k run - with hundreds of others signing up in each category simply to support the Beach2Beach. Some simply walked their chosen leg.
Mayor Sue Heins attended this year, handing out the medals for those in the top placings, and MP for Mackellar Dr. Sophie Scamps the Teams results, as well as running in the Beach2Beach as part of the Yes Campaign Team (for The Voice).
Some of the fun at the Newport Community Festival end is shared in these great photos by Michael Mannington OAM.
2023 Beach2Beach Results
All results available here: www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/beach-to-beach-2023
13km
Male
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 18-29 Lachlan BRYANT (#20) 00:47:08
2 40-49 Peter SCHOKMAN (#158) 00:49:21
3 30-39 Martin SMELLIE (#88) 00:51:17
Female
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 U18 Jeannie STUMP (#1526) 00:58:50
2 30-39 Stacey PHARRO (#151) 01:00:10
3 40-49 Danielle GRETHER (#50) 01:02:18
6km
Male
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 U18 Nathan LONGSTER (#6072) 00:24:55
2 U18 Jasper SCAMPS (#6268) 00:25:52
3 50-59 David MASSASSO (#6234) 00:27:50
Female
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 U18 Sybella HAWLEY (#6219) 00:27:32
2 18-29 U SPERREVIK (#6111) 00:27:58
3 U18 Katherine GRACEY (#6055) 00:28:47
3km
Male
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 U18 Aaron SMITH (#3110) 00:13:54
2 U18 Max DONALD (#3073) 00:14:50
3 U10 Otis GARDNER (#3080) 00:15:27
Female
Pos Category Name Net Time
1 U18 Julia FRANCO (#3078) 00:15:53
2 U10 Grace DAFFY (#3007) 00:16:39
3 18-49 Emma DAFFY (#3006) 00:16:40
