San Remo Channel Challenge
Ms CRUGNALE (Bass) (10:03): Glorious day, crystal-clear water—over 500 competitors turned out for the 36th San Remo Channel Challenge, a 550-metre swim to the island and 2-kilometre run back. The community at large cheered with enthusiasm at the jetty across the channel and lined the bridges as you ran, walked and hobbled past, with more at the finish all egging you on encouragingly with high fives, ‘Go, girl’, ‘Go, you’, ‘Just keep going’. Local businesses were delighted seeing so much activity. The band at the Sanny rocked—it even played April Sun in Cuba in full. The organisers breathed a sigh of relief; their hard work and preparation delivered an event that did not miss a beat. We had a bit of a stellar line-up with elite Oz triathletes and Olympians setting a ridiculous pace, but the day was about having fun and giving it a go no matter your level. Big yay to the 100 volunteers on the water, in the race centre, in the transition area and at the finish, 70 of them Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club members—all proceeds going to the club to support this vital service. Special mention to Brian Dallinger, the only competitor now to have completed all 36 challenges; guest starter John Thomson, legendary club past president and life member; and Graeme Burgan for his expertise in calling the slack tide. A big thankyou also to Ron, Melina, Graeme, Riley, Sully, Max, Geoff, Rob, club president Mark, our SES crew, sponsors and all involved. This was truly a reconnecting-the-community event—totally recommend putting it on your bucket list.