Lorne revives long-awaited Pier to Pub

FOR the first time since 2020, the Pier to Pub returned to Lorne on Saturday with more than 5,000 participants completing the annual event.

The first to take part in this year’s event – which followed two years of COVID-19 cancellations – entered the water at Lorne Pier from 8.30am as swimmers aged 12 up to over 80 completed the world’s largest open water swim over the next seven hours, finishing at the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club.

The headline Superfish events had familiar faces emerge on top as Manly’s Hayden Cotter (11min:48sec) and Main Beach’s Lani Pallister (12:46) each secured their fourth consecutive Pier to Pub wins.

Alongside the elite Superfish category, athletes, and politicians took to the ocean, including former Victoria premier Ted Baillieu, father-daughter duo and distinguished media figures Tim and Sam Lane, as well as former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

The previous day (January 13), close to 2,000 runners took on the 8km Mountain to Surf, with Point Lonsdale resident, Rip2River winner and local legend Nick Wightman took out the top prize, with Eleanor Raper winning for the women.

The two events were estimated to bring in an extra 40,000 visitors to Lorne over the weekend.

The next Pier to Pub is already locked in for January 13, 2024.

For full race results from this year, head to results.lornesurfclub.com.au