Surf Coast Times Jim Wall Ironman approaches

WITH wild winds blowing the Jim Wall Ironman back from its original date, the competition is now ready to try again.

The event will now be held on Saturday, February 29 from 2pm.

The competition is the oldest iron race in Australia, having first been held in 1962.

Jim Wall was one of Torquay SLSC’s founders and served as president for over a decade.

Following his death, the 1964 event was renamed in his honour.

Jim’s son Terry said the gesture was “a very nice thing for the family.”

Fittingly, Terry won the event for the first two years after it was renamed, something he recalls fondly.

“I was trying pretty hard in those couple of events, for obvious reasons.”

Now residing in Newcastle, the competition remains an event of great significance to Terry, and one he has been pleased to see grow.

“I come down every year to help out as much as I can and support the event.

“It was essentially a club event for a time, and eventually it got other clubs in Victoria to participate and then throughout Australia over the years.”

The delay has not dampened people’s enthusiasm for the Jim Wall, as Torquay SLSC now has a larger number of entrants than they did for the events original race on January 10.

A mix of local and interstate will compete on Friday, with some big surf sports names among them.

Holders Harriet Brown and Matt Gilling will be returning to defend their titles, while the likes of Grace Harris, Sophie Thomas and Archie Vernon to challenge.

The event will see races involving the Under 13 boys and girls through to the Open categories.

Torquay Beach is bound to be buzzing throughout the day, as in the morning some best iron athletes in the country will be holding an Ocean Warriors Surf Sports Clinic for Under 10s,11s and 12s.