Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
The Yamba Ocean Swim kicked off 2023 with a splash as a record number of entrants hit the water across all age groups, cheered on by a crowd of hundreds on a stunning summer’s day.
Yamba Surf Club Surf Sports Director and Race Organiser Jim Dougherty said this was the 35th annual Yamba Ocean Swim since the inaugural event in 1988, organised by Barry Cribb, when about 50 entrants took part.
“We had 397 entrants this year which is well up on our previous best of 354 in 2013,” he said.
“The record number of entrants was very pleasing and means it will be a great financial success for the club.
Due to dangerous surf conditions on January 2, for the second consecutive year Mr Dougherty said the event was moved to Whiting Beach, inside the Clarence River mouth.
“The surf was too rough at Main Beach and Convent Beach, and it would have been too dangerous for inexperienced ocean swimmers,” he said.
“It worked well, for the weaker swimmers it was nice and calm at Whiting Beach and being a community event, not an event for elite swimmers, we’ve got to cater for everyone.
“Everything went very smoothly, there was nobody that had to be pulled out of the water.”
It was a truly international field, with entrants coming from interstate and even overseas to compete in 700 metre and 2km swims, plus the final Dash for Cash.
“The Open men’s field was exceptionally strong, the guy who won it, Bailey Armstrong from Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast, he won both the 700 metre and the 2km swims, he’s an Australian open water representative who has competed in world titles and is an exceptional swimmer,” Mr Dougherty said.
“Lachlan Walker who came second is from Alstonville and he had previously won the double (700m and 2km) in 2020 and 2021.
“The guy who ran third, Ky Kinsela from Coffs Harbour had previously won the double in 2015 and 2016.
“Madisyn Armstrong from Kawana Waters won the 2km women’s swim and Millie Loughnan is from Singapore who won the 700m and she was last year’s winner as well.
“Millie and her family come over from Singapore to Yamba to holiday every Christmas.”
With classes ranging from 12-year-old’s to over 70’s, Mr Dougherty said several locals enjoyed success, winning their divisions.
“In the 700 metres Kirk Palmer from Maclean took out the 30-39 men’s, Yamba’s Jeunesse Meldrum won the 40-49 women’s and Judy King of Palmers Island won the over 70’s, then in the 2km Alan Dunne from Wooloweyah won the men’s 30-39 division and Jeunesse Meldrum won the women’s 40-49,” Mr Dougherty said.
At midday, proceedings reverted back to Main Beach, where competitors battled the large waves in the Dash for Cash to win $100.
“We put two buoys out at 150 meters and the swimmers go out to those two buoys and line up and the starter blows the whistle and it’s a race into the beach,” Mr Dougherty said.
“The two Armstrong’s, Bailey Armstrong won the men’s and Madisyn Armstrong won the women’s Dash for Cash.”
Mr Dougherty said the club was hopeful it’s biggest annual fundraiser will raise about $15k, which will go towards operating costs, keeping patrols on beaches, plus toward members competing in surf lifesaving carnivals.
“It’s the biggest fundraiser the club has for the year, which requires a huge amount of volunteer work from club members,” he said.
“In past years we’ve raised in excess of $10,000 so we’ll hopefully get closer to $15,000 this year.”
Following the Ocean Swim events, Mr Dougherty said entrants, friends and family enjoyed the afternoon, with the bar open at Yamba Surf Club.
Results
2km
Men: 1. Bailey Armstrong 2. Lachlan Walker 3. Ky Kinsela.
Women: 1. Madisyn Armstrong 2. Piper Sanderson 3. Millie Loughnan.
700m
Men: 1. Bailey Armstrong 2. Lachlan Walker 3. Ky Kinsela.
Women: 1. Millie Loughnan 2. Lilly Geddes 3. Jacqueline Schafer.
Dash for Cash $100
Men: Bailey Armstrong.
Women: Madisyn Armstrong.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 11 January 2023.
