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December 5th 2009 - North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club held the 6th annual 3 Points Challenge and Ocean Swim in overcast and tricky conditions, hosting over 700 competitors. See below for more information on the day's proceedings.

If you would like to provide feedback on the 2009 event Click Here

2009 3 Points Challenge Competitor Timings & Placings

2009 Ocean Swim Competitor Timings & Placings

2009 Full Race Results on Multisports site

2009 Event photos by Abbey Digital available for purchase

Some photos from our 2009 event are viewable from our own Photo Gallery

The 6th running of our 3 Points Challenge and Ocean Swim was always going to promise great things, given the momentum of the previous couple of years. But the final outcome was better than all our expectations, when almost 750 competitors descended on North Curl Curl Beach to take part. There is no question that this event is now firmly entrenched as the must do swim/aquathon for all standard of competitors—from the professional tri-athletes to the Sunday wannabes.

Conditions on the day were excellent—the swell provided some uneven action for swimmers, with the occasional set providing a fast train back to the beach, whilst the air temperature was kept to a bearable level due to light cloud cover during the morning.

In the Ocean Swim, sponsored by BONDS, just under 150 competitors stepped up to the start line, with the course once again taking them out beyond the break and then north beyond the rock pool—a course that provides some great variety for the swimmers.

As the frontrunners turned for home, it looked like Chris Parker from Avoca Beach was going to take out the big swim, when well known ocean swimmer Luane Rowe managed to ride a wave past Chris, and beat him to the finish tape. Luane has won the female category of this race in previous years, but this was the first time she has managed to be crowned the outright winner, a fantastic reward for her perseverance and great swimming ability.

Attention then turned to the BENDIGO BANK 3 Points Challenge. With almost 540 competitors ready to take on the 3 beach surf swim and running race, this year we introduced wave starts, starting with the 39 and under males, then all the females, and finishing with the 40 plus males. In hindsight we probably needed even more waves—something to look at next year.

Ian Joynson, a Director of Bendigo Bank, was our guest starter for the main event, which included Mike Baird, Member for Manly, amongst the starters. Mike had been invited as VIP guest, but decided he actually wanted to do the event. In hindsight he may have had second thoughts about that decision, as the carnival atmosphere quickly turned serious as the realization that the race had started, and it was time to put in the effort.

The pace was set by the frontrunners, with Collaroy’s Mitchell Trim the first one to get to transition area number 1, followed closely by race favorite and defending champion, Peter Jacobs. Not far behind them was North Curl Curl’s own Glenn Coltman, who had already competed in the Ocean Swim, coming 9th overall and 3rd in his category in that event.

As the South Curl Curl swim came and went, it was clear that Peter Jacobs was the man to beat. By his own admission, when he turned for home at his home beach Freshwater, he was in cruise mode, until Thomas Do Canto from Putney made a valiant attempt to run him down, pushing Peter as they hit the sand at first gate on North Curly beach. Once again Peter broke the finish tape to win his second Challenge, with Thomas second, and a great performance from Botany’s Roger Souter coming in 3rd, and simultaneously taking out the 40-49 category.

In the women's event, Angie Sharp from Dora Creek was first across the line, followed by Reegan Ellis and last year’s winner, Melissa Vandewater in 3rd place.

The final event of the day was the IGA Dash for Cash, where the top 3 male and female place getters from the Ocean Swim and Challenge had a straight out swim and beach sprint for cash. In both the men's and women’s dash, the cash was evenly shared amongst the sprinters, topping of a great event.

We need to thank our event major sponsors, Bendigo Bank Harbord Branch, Bonds, IGA and Raine & Horne Manly – without their support we could not put on this event. Also there are many other supporting sponsors providing prizes and services which are called out on our Sponsors page. With all their support, we managed to raise close to $28,000 in funds for the club, which is what this race is all about - a fantastic result. And of course, thanks to all the competitors for making the day such a huge success