FAMILY FOCUS

180 Swim in Queenscliff this weekend open for all

THE 26th Queenscliff 180 Family Swim, previously known as the Queenscliff Blue Water Challenge, will be held on Saturday January 27, with a variety of race lengths and divisions available for all ages to participate in.

This week, organisers Liam Petrie-Allbutt and Sam Sheppard announced an exciting initiative within the swim, encouraging parents and kids to give swimming a go.

“When Sam and I embarked on the Queenscliff 180, we were aiming to build a new swim model embracing the whole family,” Petrie-Allbutt said.

“A one-kilometre adult swim encourages parents – who may not swim often – to participate in a family-friendly environment. Based on our observations from our aquatic sports program, role modelling was a clear driver for the children to participate in swimming.

“By offering a 500-metre children participation swim, the role modelling concept is front and centre for our family model swimming initiative.”

Online registration for the Optus Dolphins 500-metre participation swim is $25 online or $30 on the day from 7.30am at the shelter shed at 1 Symonds Street, Queenscliff.

Sheppard, who has won seven Lorne Pier to Pub races but this year finished sixth, is looking forward to seeing a new generation of swimmers take to the water.

“It’s great to be able to give back to the sport I grew up with,” he said.

“I can’t wait to bring this event to younger swimmers and families in a calm and safe open-water environment.”

MasterChef judge Matt Preston will be the official race starter for the day, with sports presenter and journalist Wes Cusworth as Master of Ceremonies.

Special guest speaker for the Queenscliff 180 Family Swim will be Dr Peter Doherty, who will talk about his work in medicine and the importance of medical research in Australia at 11.30am.

Proceeds of the event will be donated towards Parkinson’s Victoria and the University of Sydney’s medical research department, focusing on the cause of Parkinson’s disease.

Online registration for one-kilometre race participants is $60. They will receive a special event long-sleeve shirt for their participation.

Online registrations are now open at queenscliff180swim.com and close on January 26 (tomorrow).