“Perfect” was the only word that could describe the conditions on Bondi Beach on Sunday 10th January. Bright and early on this day, hundreds of swimmers made the effort to swim almost 2kms around the Bondi Ocean Swim course.
The swimmers wore everything from budgie-smugglers to body-steamer wetsuits but the warm water made the former the most appropriate. Competitors of all ages and both sexes took part alongside each other.

Despite the fact that moored boats and ocean currents set up obstacles for the swimmers, the scorching sun was not the only thing to warm this day, the vibes of unity and good sportsmanship also were shining down on all the people involved in the 2010 Bondi Ocean Swim.

 BLK1 Photographer: www.petersollner.com

Images and Article: © BLK1 2010. All Rights Reserved.

November 29th was the second last day of Spring, and the day that a great Summer sport descended on Coogee Beach.

Hundreds of men and women took part in the The Coogee Island Challenge open water swimming event for 2009. This open water swim happened in the early morning and involved competitors covering a distance of over 2000 meters.

The 2009 Coogee Island Challenge was given a shot-point start by Peter Garret, MP and environmentalist. Less welcome guests at the Island Challenge swim were a school of jellyfish, which were floating to greet the swimmers at the end of the race.

Despite the jellyfish, there was no menace of cold waters or unpleasant weather which turned Coogee beach into the perfect setting for a perfect day of open water swimming.

 BLK1 Photographer: www.petersollner.com

Images and Article: © BLK1 2008-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Australian swim brand Vorgee has launched the country’s first polarised swimming goggles – the Osprey – giving Aussie triathletes and open water swimmers the cutting-edge advantage.

18 months in the making, Vorgee’s Osprey goggles use the same type of polarising lenses found in leading sunglass brands. Vorgee first had the idea a couple of years ago when they kept hearing complaints from open water swimmers of the problems they were having with reflective glare off the water and its affect on their vision and performance.

The Vorgee design team ran with the concept and began to research the kinds of polarising lenses worn by other sports people – cyclists, skiers, sailors – who need to perform to a high level in glary, reflective environments. Their findings were then applied to swimming goggle technology and the Vorgee Osprey was born.

Osprey goggles feature polarised, UV protected, anti-fog coated, enlarged lenses that provide zero distortion and optimum viewing clarity, no matter what the conditions. Combine this with an oversized, one piece lens and frame design that enhances comfort and sight lines, plus a quick fit strap system, and you have the perfect goggles for open water swimming.

Vorgee’s Osprey goggles will also be available in tinted and clear lens versions for pool swimming.

The Osprey goes on sale at participating aquatic centres throughout Australia in September 2009.

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The prospect of freezing waters did not deter the hundreds of swimmers who took part in the Mona Vale Cold Water Classic Ocean Swim on Sunday 21st June.

There was a notable absence of heat from the sun, and a cold wind was blowing, but the swimmers- many of them aged over 50 years- had no fear for the chilly temperature.

There was an option to wear a wetsuit, but a majority braved the cold, reportedly saying that the chill was a large part of the thrill. While many swimmers opted to wear nothing but a pair of Speedos, many had stated that they had experienced colder waters in their lifetime and that the winds that were felt after exiting the water were the coldest part of the day.

The swim covered the distance from Mona Vale beach right into The Basin. All competitors who were registered to race managed to compete the course, proving that the promised cold temperatures really are no match for determined ocean swimmers.
BLK1 Photographer: PETER SOLLNER

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This year’s Balmoral Swim attracted over 600 competitors from all over New South Wales. The event, which is held at Balmoral Beach just north of Sydney, has raised money for the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia since 2007.

In 2008, 713 competitors attended, raising over $30,000, and this year the charity has once again made a significant contribution, collecting over $22,000 for the cause so far.

The Alexander Patrick Hall Charity Cup is awarded to the individual and team who raises the most amount of money through the online fund. This year the award goes to team Clubaces, who have raised an astounding $13,863 to date, more than half of the total contribution. Nicholas Anderson was also recognised for his individual contribution of $2,145.

Several other awards and prizes are handed out to the winners of each race. The programme consists of a team relay, a 250m juniors team race, as well as a 150m open Dash for Glory.

But the curtain raiser for the event, the one kilometre race, was the main attraction. The long-distance harbour swim encouraged 602 starters to take to the chilled waters at 10am last Friday.  Eighteen-year-old Jake Nolan of Beacon Hill took out the race in just under 12 minutes. Kelly McCrae was the fastest of the women finishing in 8th place overall.

The Balmoral Beach Club, in co-operation with the Mosman council will be looking for an increased number of competitors and donators when the event is held once again next year.

BLK1 Article: ALI SULIO BLK1 Photographer: PETER SOLLNER

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Black Smiths Beach sunrise on Saturday during championships

Cronulla’s Allum brothers thought they had today’s Open Male Board Rescue final in the bag until rival club mates, the Simpson brothers, cleverly held back to await a lucky shore wave that catapulted them into the gold medal position.

Defending champion Mark Simpson, 24, was the swimmer in the rescue simulation event and younger brother Dean Simpson, 21, rode the board. Once Mark was retrieved the Simpson brothers chased Chris and Hayden Allum all the way to the beach until Dean spotted the winning ride.

“I saw a wave coming and told Mark to wait, that’s what got us past them,” he said grinning.

Chris Allum was clearly frustrated at the late loss. “We had that race in the bag, but that’s part of the sport. It’s dead flat then a one foot wave appears right there….it’s funny how it happens sometimes.”

The Simpson and the Allum brothers train together at Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club and are friends, “but not on the line,” admitted Chris Allum.

From today’s result he did take away some solace. Mark Simpson won this event last year, with a different partner, and two years ago the Simpson brothers won the national title. “To be in front of them makes me feel like we are in with a shot in Perth,” Chris Allum added, referring to the upcoming national titles in less than three weeks time.

Today’s gold medal was the third this state carnival for Mark Simpson who combined with the Allum brothers and Cameron Pyett yesterday in the Surf Team and with Hayden in the Open Mens Board Relay.

His training might have suffered in previous months due to work commitments but Mark’s happy to take the psychological advantage heading into tomorrow’s string of individual finals including the Swim, Board and the blue ribbon event, the Open Ironman.

In the Open Female Board Rescue Terrigal stormed home, a big turnaround from last year when the team failed to qualify for the finals at the state championship. Only their second time on a board together this season, 25 year old Amanda White, the defending national champion, and Joanna Baxter, a 17 year old St Josephs High School student, “just clicked”.

Baxter was also part of the winning Terrigal team in the Under 19 Female Surf Team final, combining with Erin Robertson and two Under 17 swimmers, Jorden Burnes and Rachelle King.

Conditions were calm again for day two of the 2009 Allphones Open NSW Surf Life Saving Championships with a dumping shore break, light winds and flat seas under a strong sun on the final day of summer.

This evening will be a quiet affair for the Open competitors who have qualified for a finals berth tomorrow. The competition will get underway at 8am in the morning before the traditional March Past at 11am when the 2008 NSW Surf Lifesaver and Volunteer of the Year will be announced.

The carnival’s closing events promise a thrilling afternoon of water and beach finals climaxing with the pinnacle, the Open Ironman and Ironwoman.

Host Club Swansea Belmont rose to second place in the overall pointscore today.

FINAL RESULTS: DAY TWO

1. Manly- 128

2. Swansea Belmont- 120

3. Terrigal- 119

4. Freshwater- 108

5. Warilla-Barrack Point- 107

6. Cronulla- 88

7. Redhead- 72

8. Wanda- 71

9. Ocean Beach- 68

10. North Cronulla- 61

FINALS RESULTS FROM DAY TWO
Open Male Board Rescue
(1) Cronulla c (2) Cronulla b (3) Manly BLUE (4) Cudgen Headland White (5) North Bondi Barbarians (6) Cudgen Headland Blue

Open Female Board Rescue
(1) Terrigal A (2) Sawtell A (3) Freshwater A (4) Lennox Head-Alstonville X (5) Swansea Belmont B (6) The Lakes Red

Under 17 Male Board Rescue
(1) Cronulla c (2) Terrigal A (3) Warilla-Barrack Point BLUE (4) Redhead A (5) Freshwater A (6) Lennox Head-Alstonville X

Under 17 Female Board Rescue
(1) Copacabana RED (2) Manly BLUE (3) Cooks Hill A (4) Warilla-Barrack Point WHITE (5) Freshwater A (6) Swansea Belmont D

Under 15 Male Board Rescue
(1) Redhead B (2) Redhead A (3) Cudgen Headland Blue (4) Wanda red (5) Ocean Beach BLUE (6) Elouera White

Under 15 Female Board Rescue
(1) Freshwater B (2) Cronulla red (3) Redhead b (4) Terrigal C (5) Avoca Beach green (6) Terrigal A

Under 19 Female Taplin Relay
(1) Warilla-Barrack Point BLACK (2) Swansea Belmont A (3) Freshwater A (4) Byron Bay A (5) Warilla-Barrack Point ORANGE (6) Elouera White

Under 19 Male Taplin Relay
(1) Avoca Beach A (2) Warilla-Barrack Point BLACK (3) Collaroy red (4) Terrigal A (5) Elouera White (6) Freshwater A

Under 19 Female Single Ski
(1) BAXTER, JOANNA (Terrigal) (2) SMITH, LAUREN (Warilla-Barrack Point) (3) COLEMAN, TARA (Maroubra) (4) KNAPMAN, SARAH (Manly) (5) MINOGUE, HANNAH (Bulli) (6) FLEMMING, Tahnee (Byron Bay)

Under 19 Double Ski (single gender teams)
(1) Warilla-Barrack Point BLACK (2) Warilla-Barrack Point ORANGE (3) Freshwater A (4) North Bondi a (5) Byron Bay A (6) Avoca Beach B

Open Male Malibu Surf Board Riding
(1) Rawson, Matt (Swansea Belmont) (2) Carroll, Anthony (Bronte) (3) VanDerWallen, Adriaan (Avalon Beach) (4) Mahoney, Sean (North Cronulla) (5) Gibson, Nathen (Long Reef) (6) Williams, Bryce (Swansea Belmont)

Open Female Malibu Surf Board Riding
(1) KENT, MICHELLE (Redhead) (2) Mulquiney, Katie (Cooks Hill) (3) Miley-Dwyer, Olivia (Bronte) (4) Charles, April (North Cronulla)

Open Mixed 5 Person R&R
(1) Collaroy Black (2) Wanda red (3) Newport Gold (4) North Cronulla Gold (5) Wanda blue (6) Swansea Belmont A

Open 6 Person R&R
(1) Freshwater MAROON (2) Collaroy Black (3) Swansea Belmont A (4) Bondi B (5) Wanda blue (6) Freshwater WHITE

Open Male 5 Person R&R
(1) Swansea Belmont A (2) Bondi A (3) Wanda blue (4) Freshwater MAROON

Over 24 Restricted Surf Race
(1) Allen, Malcolm (Bronte) (2) LEMMON, Paul (Freshwater) (3) Bowden, Andrew (Bronte) (4) HANSON, Kurt (Freshwater) (5) pyett, cameron (Cronulla) (6) bolewski, joel (Wanda)

Under 19 Female Surf Teams
(1) Terrigal A (2) Manly BLUE (3) Elouera Blue (4) Byron Bay A (5) North Bondi A (6) North Cronulla Gold

Under 19 Male Surf Teams
(1) Warilla-Barrack Point BLACK (2) Elouera White (3) Bulli A (4) Manly BLUE (5) Wanda red (6) Terrigal A

Under 15 Female Surf Teams
(1) Cronulla a (2) Redhead A (3) Freshwater A (4) Avoca Beach blue (5) Terrigal A (6) Sawtell A

Under 17 Male Board Relay
(1) Terrigal A (2) Bulli A (3) Cronulla a (4) Lennox Head-Alstonville X (5) Freshwater A (6) Swansea Belmont A

Under 17 Female Board Relay
(1) Terrigal A (2) Warilla-Barrack Point BLACK (3) Byron Bay A (4) Freshwater A (5) Copacabana JOSH (6) Swansea Belmont A

Under 15 Male Board Relay
(1) Redhead A (2) Swansea Belmont A (3) North Cronulla Gold (4) Wanda blue (5) Avoca Beach blue (6) Redhead B

Under 15 Female Board Relay
(1) Avoca Beach blue (2) Cronulla a (3) Lennox Head-Alstonville X (4) Sawtell A (5) Redhead A (6) Terrigal A

Boat Relay
(1) South Curl Curl South Curly (2) Manly BLUE (3) Cooks Hill HILL (4) Bulli A

Open Male 2km Beach Run
(1) CONRICK, BOYD (Redhead) (2) DAY, BLAIR (Warilla-Barrack Point) (3) HIGGINS, Scott (The Lakes) (4) BALDWIN, LEON (Manly) (5) Hynard, Brad (Wollongong City) (6) Barclay, Jared (North Cronulla)

Open Female 2km Beach Run
(1) Leadbeatter, Angela (Swansea Belmont) (2) Conder, Jenny (Elouera) (3) McCarthy, Siobhan (North Bondi) (4) campbell, melissa (Wanda) (5) Conder, Kate (Elouera) (6) HEAL, EMILY (Manly)

Under 17 Male 2km Beach Run
(1) JAMES, BLAKE (Warilla-Barrack Point) (2) Wallace, Jordan (Wollongong City) (3) CALLAWAY, DAVID (Bulli) (4) Callander, charlie (Whale Beach) (5) Ingle, Jake (Swansea Belmont) (6) SHEPHERD, HAYDEN (Redhead)

Under 15 Male 2km Beach Run
(1) Walters, Guy (Swansea Belmont) (2) WYLIE, TIM (Towradgi) (3) cracknell, toby (Avoca Beach) (4) Green, Jake (Thirroul) (5) Kelly-Makovec, Joshua (North Cronulla) (6) MARSHALL, Ben (The Lakes)

Under 19 Male 2km Beach Run
(1) Ham, Troy (Swansea Belmont) (2) WATSON, ADAM (Manly) (3) KRUCLER, JORDAN (Umina Beach) (4) RIDDINGTON, NATHAN (Queenscliff) (5) Flannery, Ryan (Dixon Park) (6) HAWKE, PHILLIP (Queenscliff)

Under 17 Female 2km Beach Run
(1) JONES, BREE (Warilla-Barrack Point) (2) McGain, Alexandra (Bilgola) (3) Brady, Tia (Dixon Park) (4) McGrath, Georgia (North Cronulla) (5) RYAN, SASHA (Shellharbour) (6) Bakker, Kaitlin (Lennox Head-Alstonville)

Under 15 Female 2km Beach Run
(1) GASPAROTTO, ELYSSIA (Ocean Beach) (2) LAVALLE, OLIVIA (North Wollongong) (3) SMYTH, LILLI (Coffs Harbour) (4) douglas-savage, chloe (Wanda) (5) davies, michaela (Cronulla) (6) Kruger, Zane (Dee Why)

BLK1 Article: SURF LIFE SAVING NSW Photographer: PETER SOLLNER

Blacksmiths Beach Sunrise - Day 2

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Images: © AFP 2008 /2009/ 2010 Article: © BLK1 2009. All Rights Reserved.