Hundreds take on Tim Gates Classic

HUNDREDS of people took to the sand last weekend at Fairhaven Beach to participate in the 2025 Tim Gates Classic.

Held annually in honour of Tim Gates on January 12, the fundraising event gave participants the option of completing a 10km fun run or a 5km fun run or walk.

Event organiser and Tim Gates’ daughter, Sarah Gates, said her team was really happy with how the event ran, drawing in almost 400 runners despite a stormy and wet morning.

Participants of all ages and abilities took part in the event, with the choice of completing a 10km or 5km run.

“We were lucky, by the time the event was on it had cleared and it was, I would say, perfect conditions for a run along the beach, which was beautiful and still nice and overcast.”

Former Collingwood player and coach Nathan Buckley got the race started, sending runners on their way at 4pm, before cheering them across the finish line.

Xavier West was the first to finish the 5km fun run/walk for the men’s group, while Ben Charles and Oscar Mills took out second and third place.

The event is held each year in honour of Tim Gates.

In the women’s, Alana Heinz earnt the number one spot in 23.41 while Gabby Henderson took second in 23.56 and Lulu Slattery in third finishing in 24.05.

In the 10km fun run, Felix Lonergan took out the number one position for the male category, finishing in 36.31 and was followed by Robbie Charles in second and Gus Charles in third.

For the women, Harriet Hall crossed the line first in a time of 41.40, with Chloe Psyhogios in second and Samathan Gates in third.

Around 400 people took to the starting line for Sunday’s event.

Achilles Melbourne and Geelong, a vision impaired group, also participated in the event, with most of those runners completing the 10km event.

The 2025 event was the first Ms Gates has put her hand up to organiss, and she believes it would have made her father proud.

“I think he would really like being able to see me down there at the club and really getting involved, spending time with a lot of people that he really loved. There’s something really nice about that,” she said.

Nathan Buckley (centre) sent runners down Fairhaven Beach as he started the Tim Gates Classic.

“It’s been really nice reconnecting with the club, getting to know new current members, getting to know people that have been around for ages, but I haven’t properly met before.”

The money raised from the event will be donated to the Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club.

For the full list of results, head to oztiming.com.au