The Byron Bay Winter Whales are understandably proud that this year’s Byron Shire Community Event Award went to their annual Beach Hotel Ocean Swim Classic. Held on the first Sunday in May each year this event, along with the shorter Westpac Mini-swim, is not only a great ocean swim event but the money raised from it is distributed to selected charities and local organisations. These include local water-based clubs, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter, The Salvos, Cancer Support Groups, Ambo’s etc. who have to-date benifited from the distribution of some 434,000 odd dollars.
Event Co-ordinator, Rob Elvy, was quick to praise the small band of Winter Whales who have conducted this event 24 times so far and noted that it could not have happened so successfully each and every one of those times without the support of the Byron Bay Surf Club on the water and the Swimming Club in the registration area on the day.
‘Our list of sponsors, most of them long-term, are a valuable asset to the results we achieve each year. The participation of the ocean swimming community from the local area, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and inceasingly more from Sydney and Melbourne is also testiment to the committment of the organisers and for this award to be granted to our event is further validation of the original idea, back in 1988, to run an annual charity swim in the Bay.’
Registrations are open for this year’s event. Go to their website to download an entry form.
Echonetdaily is a proud sponsor of the Beach Hotel Ocean Swim Classic.
Image: The Elite Superfish look to Main Beach while waiting for the start of the Swim Classic’s ultimate event in 2010. Photo Tree Faerie.
