Broulee Bay to breakers 2020 drew a big crowd of eager ocean swimmers. Photo: Supplied.
In yet another step towards bushfire recovery, 340 swimmers powered into the sea at North Broulee beach last Sunday for the 9th annual Hotondo Homes Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim.
The days of black sky and ash-ridden beaches after a summer of bushfires are still close enough that swim coordinator David Butt commented on the water clarity.
“It was a wonderful morning – sunny, clean water and enthusiastic swimmers – just a terrific community event after such a difficult summer and a great way to enjoy the things we love about Broulee,” he said.
The event was organised by the Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club and the Broulee Mossy Point Community Association, and the $17,000 raised on the day will be shared equally between the groups.
Clint Picken from Canberra, second in the over-30s, beamed as his stepdaughter Decoda met him in the shallows with a prosthetic leg to help with the run to the finish line.
The 1.4 km open water swim course changes to suit water conditions, “this year, the course was an out-and-back one in Broulee North Bay where the seas were calmer than the ocean route from Shark Bay,” David explained.
Among the competitors – who compete for $300 cash for open winners and $100 for the senior categories – was Antoinette, a swimmer who had just arrived from a village outside Dublin.
“It was Antoinette’s first-ever ocean swim and she simply smiled her way out of the water and onto the finish line,” David said.
All the way from Ireland, Antoinette smiles as she reaches the finish line.
Swimmers who do the swim five years in a row achieve ‘bronze dolphin’ status and are presented with a memento T-shirt to mark the milestone. This year, 20 swimmers were honoured.
But others take it a step further, like 80-year-old Wendy Dunn, who has completed the swim eight times and took first place in the over-80s women category.
Wendy Dunn finishes the Broulee Bay to Breakers swim for the eighth time.
Alan Cameron won the over-80s male title for the second year in a row.
Winners of the open categories were Grace Hoitink and James Thorpe.
After such a tough summer for businesses, the Broulee Surf Club and Broulee Mossy Point Community Association made special mention of the sponsors who rallied for the event.
“The contribution of our sponsors to the event is extraordinary given the financial setbacks they have incurred through drought, bushfires and floods and what they may face in coming months and beyond,” David said.
Sponsors of the event include Hotondo Homes, Tomakin Sports and Social Club, Broulee Learn to Surf Surf School, Broulee Supermarket and Cellars, Offshore Surf Shop, The Lodge Broulee, fx Business Centre, Mogo Zoo, Bay Physiotherapy & Pilates, Woolworths Moruya, the Vikings Group, TrusssworX, Key Sun Zinke, and Big 4 Holiday Parks.
For full results, visit Broulee Surfers SLSC.
Original Article published by Elka Wood on About Regional.
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