Swimmers rip it up in Lonny

THE 37th annual Rip View Swim Classic has raised more than $130,000 for essential surf lifesaving equipment at the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club.

More than 1,350 swimmers took part in one of the event’s largest editions to date, with all funds directed toward upgrading and maintaining critical gear used by local volunteer lifesavers.

Great sportsmanship was on show between competitors on the day.

This year marked a refreshed chapter for the Rip View Swim Classic, with a renewed look and feel aimed at improving both the athlete and spectator experience, while reinforcing the event’s strong community focus.

Bathed in perfect summer conditions, swimmers of all ages and abilities took to the water across three swim distances: 3.8km, 1.4km and the 600m dash.

Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club are celebrating another successful edition of the event.

The marquee open male title was taken out by Conor Hayes, while Madi Brand reigned supreme in the open female division.

Matthew Gilling and Charlotte Logan shared the podium in the 1.4km swim, while Mun Lee and Janice De Vries took top honours in the 600m dash.

The Point Lonsdale foreshore had a great festival like atmosphere.

Race director Liam Petrie-Allbutt praised both the conditions and the professionalism of the event delivery.

“We were fortunate to have excellent conditions on the day, but just as importantly, swimmers would have experienced a smooth, well-managed and safely run event,” he said.

“That’s a credit to the planning, the water safety teams and the volunteers who ensured everything ran seamlessly from the first start to the final finish.”

Swimmers raced across three course lengths on the day.

Club president Michael Doery said the event played an important role in supporting both lifesaving services and the wider regional economy.

“The Rip View Swim Classic is first and foremost a community event,” he said.

“It brings people to Point Lonsdale from across Victoria, supports local tourism, and creates meaningful opportunities for local businesses and community groups to be involved.

The open male and female podium placers.

“The market stalls and live music along the main street were a huge success and helped create a real buzz throughout the town, showcasing everything this region has to offer.”

Fresh off record participation, ideal conditions and a refreshed event experience, the Rip View Swim Classic intends to return bigger and better in 2027.

Official race results are available via Tomato Timing.