Rip View Swim Classic lands in Lonnie

A TIGHT finish in the 1.2km open male category and a dominant performance in the female open category concluded a stellar afternoon at the Rip View Swim Classic.

Organisers said more than 1,000 participants made their way to Point Lonsdale to take part in 32nd running of the event on December 29.

Archie Vernon and Dakoda Mathers secured open category wins by less than a second and a half-minute respectively in the headline race.

Mathers, a Chirnside Park resident, was the most dominant performer on the day with a runners-up in the 3.8km opener and a win in the 1.4km main event, earning the combined winner’s medal among the female cohort.

“I found my performance a good one,” Mathers said.

“Conditions were a lot harder in the 1.4km race at the end of the day, but it was good to have a split, usually I only do a 1km swim or a 5km swim.

“This was my first open ocean swim for the summer, but this swim interested me originally given it was from point-to-point, rather than a circle or loop, which most races are, and the fact there were two different races was also good to do.

“I’m going to nationals at the end of January doing two swims there, so it was good to have a similar format.”

Final times in the 1.4km race had Torquay-raised Vernon (14:22) edge out Rock2Ramp winner Clancy Luscombe by milliseconds (14:22), while Thomas Hay (14:25) took third.

Mathers (17:28) was in a class of her own, beating out Breahna Burgess (17:54) and Tahlia Butland (19:57).

Tommy Lane (38:22) and Clare Milligan (45:13) secured wins in the 3.8km opening swim.

Point Lonsdale SLSC swim director and event director Murray Keeble said it was tremendous to have numbers similar to previous years.

“From talking with the competitors, it was so rewarding to see everyone from all backgrounds get down to Lonnie for the swim.

“It was tough conditions and despite that, people still had a blast and that’s a massive credit to our lifeguards.

“For them it was a bit of a work day, but it allows Point Lonsdale SLSC to show off what we’re capable of and add that element of exposure.”

More than $30,000 was raised on the day with all proceeds to go towards the lifesaving club’s programs and equipment.