Tim Gates Classic to welcome back athletes in person

The Tim Gates Fun Run will be held on Sunday at Fairhaven Beach. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE 2023 Tim Gates Classic will return for its 12th installment this weekend, as the community come together to remember Tim Gates who lost his life at Fairhaven Beach in 2008 aged 52.

Taking place tomorrow, Sunday, January 8, the fun run will return in person for the first time in three years. The event honours Gates’ memory by raising money and assisting younger members to build their ocean skills and leadership skills long into the future.

Fairhaven SLSC club president Nancy Joseph said the club looked forward to welcoming back 300-400 people for both the 5k kilometer Eastern View and 10km Fairhaven to Spout Creek route.

The race exists to remember Tim Gates, who lost his life at Fairhaven Beach in 2008.

“We are super excited to get the run back at Fairhaven and it will be great to have people back doing events,” Joseph said.

“The run will focus on inclusion and giving everyone the opportunity to participate, we have young runners and we’ve also introduced an O/60 category.

“In the past we have had some visually impaired runners attend as well and hopefully they will all register again.

“The money on the day will go towards leadership programs and other inclusion and diversity pathways for the club.

“We hope to have plenty of participants on the day!

Awards will be given to overall placegetters across ten divisions on the day, while participants will be able to access their finish time and notification of prizes through registering their mobile number online.

Competitors will race either a 5km or 10km course.

To compliment the event’s inclusive nature, the committee are thrilled to be supporting Achilles Melbourne in 2023, a running club for people with a disability.

A total of 11 entrants from Achilles Melbourne will be given complimentary entry, mini bus transport from Geelong to the event and back, as well as support guides for both the 5km and 10km courses.

At the time of publishing, a celebrity starter was still being confirmed for this Sunday’s race.

Races are slated to kick off 4:30pm.

Last minute entries can be made at

www.timgatesfoundation.org.au/tim-gates-classic-2023-registration/