Pittwater Online News

We love our dogs, we love the water. We love a quiet ale or wine with friends. We love the green hills rising above us and having time enough to watch the tide come in and recede. We love the way sunset lights up the faces of our saltwater peoples. We love the sound of our children laughing, the relaxing exhale the end of year brings.

We love the Dog Race that comes every Christmas Eve.

In 1962 two Aussie blokes, men of the Pittwaters, with frosty beers in hand and furry companions at knee, mused over the aquatic qualities and abilities of said canines. As is the way when Christmas Eve is settling into its late afternoon, and men settling into their cups, a bit of fun is in order.

“My Woofer is faster…”
“No, my Woofer is faster…”

Why don’t we test that out…folks…
Why not indeed.

As the afternoon stretches long and the tide falls further and further back, lifting the sandy shores up to view, a thin line of whitewater in the bay opposite, with sparkling doe eyes peering out of its wake, tells you the long sweep of the dog tide has cometh.

Surrounded by kayakers, tinnies and anything you else you can paddle or pull (no motorboats allowed) the ‘Support Teams’ are with their entrants, the flotilla makes its way towards the shore. On the beach waiting in brilliant early summer sun, thickening humidity and cooling salt breeze, 2000 barrackers and supporters lined the foreshore to see those doggies come home.

This year’s 49th annual Dog Race from the beach near Bells Wharf on Scotland Island to the beach where the ferries come in at Church Point,  a 440 metre dash through a rising tide, won beer, dog food and a good pat to the head. Race organiser Russ Lowenthal, ‘the best looking man around’ and MC’s Toby Jay and Col Bailey, didn’t just award prizes to which best-friend made it to the beach first but also to various other categories, local, smallest, biggest, youngest, oldest – in fact everybody was a winner. Ben with 'Dog' came first, the Best Local Dog was awarded to Phil Meeks for 'Tanga' (controversial) and Tony's 'Peppy' won best small dog dressed in a Navy outfit. Martin Mulholland and his dog Cooper also winners for the 5th time (pictured on the left).

Over on the deck at the Gone Fishing Gallery the Sly Dogs made music to wag your tail to. While a stroll among the works of Offshore Artists always tends to make us linger, looking longer.

We would like to thank Ellen Shore, the Pittwater Offshore Newsletter and Russ Lowenthal for all their assistance. All Images by Michael Mannington, of Volunteer Photography. More images for you to peruse at: HERE

Gone Fishing Gallery is Open every Weekend  from 10

TIDES 2011-12: http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/Tide_Tables.pdf