Rip to River runs ahead of the heat

DESPITE the looming hot conditions, a big field of competitors turned out again for this year’s instalment of the Rip to River Classic fun run.

Organised annually by the Ocean Grove SLSC as one of its major events and its largest fundraiser of the year, Saturday’s event saw runners take on a 10km course along the beach between the Point Lonsdale lighthouse and the main beach at Ocean Grove.

Due to high temperatures forecast for Saturday afternoon, all races started 30 minutes earlier than usual.

Ocean Grove SLSC touts the event as “arguably the oldest fun run in Australia” with about 1,000 people taking part every year, and the 2025 edition featured big fields in all four categories: the 10km Classic Run, the 10km Walk, the 5km Beach Run and the 1.4km Ripper Nipper.

Christine Rees from Birdlife Australia also addressed runners briefly before the start of races about the need to protect hooded plovers, which live and breed on the beaches of the Bellarine Peninsula.

During the run, volunteers in high-visibility vests were present at sites where there was a nest and where chicks were feeding on the beach, and runners were asked to keep to the shoreline and stay on the hard wet sand.

The Rip to River Classic was also supported by club sponsor Beyond Bank.