About 600 people took part in two days of events in the 2017 Tathra Wharf to Waves.
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Officials were thrilled with the turnout between the fun run, bike ride and Sunday’s swims as all three events were swamped with hordes of last minute entries.
Sunday featured 431 entries all in with 290 swimmers involved in the 600 metre age swims and another 141 names registered in the On the Perch Splash for Cash over 1200 metres.
Surf Lifesaving FSC branch president Tony Rettke said the beach landscape was a bit different to last year after storms ravaged Tathra Beach early in 2016.
The different lay of the sand combined with a high tide saw gentle one-foot waves lapping at, and at times rising past, the finish line meaning a greatly reduced sprint up the beach.
“It will be hard to tell if we’ll get fast times or if it will appear a bit slower,” Mr Rettke said during the 1200-metre main event. “Normally it can a 30 or 40-metre sprint up the beach, but the water is pushing right up the finish line this year.”
Event stalwart John Fox had a massive day out, winning his age swim by a long margin and also out-shining Melbourne hopeful James Macri, who had won the last three 1200-metre swims.
Fox put in a great time of 15 minutes and eight seconds, just 45 seconds shy of the event record – set by Macri.
In the ladies’ standings, last year’s winner Zoe Philipzen was toted as one of the favourites, but met with some classy opposition to finish fifth.
However, she did take out her age group swim between providing race reports from the IRBs on the day.
Jenna Freeman took out the event with local swimmer Jane McCallum picking up third on the day.
Fox and Freeman both collected a $500 prize and framed pictures of Tathra from photographer Kit Goldsworthy.
It was also a good day out for a number of local young guns as they faced off against a flurry of visitors from Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra and several swimmers who travelled up from Victoria.
Ellie Parker topped her age group and hit the beach to cheers from her fellow lifesavers, as did new patrol member Tarni Evans, who finished just outside the top 10.
Tayla Smith also took out her age group, just seconds ahead of another Bega swimmer in Kate Gowing, while Zak Kelly and Jack Caldwell headed up the boys.
Former MP Steve Whan had some great results, finishing second in his age swim and taking on the 1200-metre Splash for Cash with a top 10 result.
An unexpected special guest halfway through the age swims was a visit from a seal, which darted around in front of the finish line and made quite a spectacle for beachgoers.
Officials thanked everyone who took part and said it had been one of the best events yet in the 16-year history.