Anglesea welcomes back popular Rock to Ramp

OPEN water swimmers braved challenging surf conditions to contest Anglesea’s Rock to Ramp race earlier this month.

Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club’s major fundraiser drew almost 900 participants to compete in the slate of swimming events, from the 2.5-kilometre main race to 600 metre events.

Club members expect this summer’s Rock to Ramp would raise around $30,000 for its beach safety programs, after the 2020 race couldn’t go ahead.

Event director Tom Cullen said choppy surf worrying inexperienced swimmers and ongoing COVID impacts had a slight impact on competition numbers, but that the race was still an overall success.

“The event went really well, we had 887 participants in the end,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic result considering the conditions which were quite challenging, with strong south-easterly winds and a fair bit of current moving water around.

“Then there’s people’s concerns around COVID, but it’s obviously great being back in the water after not being able to run the event in 2020.

“It’s a little bit down but not far, and we still had some great performances in the water.”

Mr Cullen said the club was pleased to finish the event without serious injuries to maintain its proud safety record

Matt Gilling was the star of the day, finishing fastest in the 2.5km swim in 26:28 minutes, just five seconds ahead of Thomas Hay. Tommy Lane finished third.

In the women’s division, Clare Milligan (32:03) recorded a comfortable win more than a minute ahead of Rebecca Henderson and Madeleine Wood.

It was on for young and old in the men’s 1.2km event – Gilling finished first ahead of Noah O’Donnell, who competed from the 12-17 age category, and Tristan Read, who was in the 40-49 bracket.

Former Torquay lifesavers Sophie Thomas and Grace Harris took out a quinella in the women’s 1.2km race.

Campbell Batchelor and Chloe Walsh won their respective 600-metre events.