Lorne revives long-awaited Pier to Pub

Swimmers Anna-Jane Henderson and Sue Blizzard at the start of the Veteran Female race. Photos: PETER MARSHALL

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.

Hayden Cotter and Lani Pallister with the perpetual Pier to Pub trophy for the fourth-straight time.

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.

Lorne SLSC’s volunteers made the event possible once again.

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.

Pier to Pub starter Steve Love in position.

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.

Moon Houston and Dorothy Dickey added to their pier to pub resumes in 80+ Heroes race.

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.