Tathra’s Wharf to Waves swim

More than 700 competitors took part in the various fun run, bike ride and swimming events on Saturday and Sunday.

Bega’s Zoe Harris overcame difficult surf conditions to win the headline race at the Tathra Wharf to Waves on Sunday.

Harris held off a strong challenge from Brooke Willis to win the race in a time of 17 minutes, 35.8 seconds.

The Splash for Cash saw competitors begin at the Tathra Wharf and swim 1200 metres to Tathra Beach.

The men’s division was again dominated by Canberra’s John Fox, who finished in just under 16 minutes.

Sunday was the third time Fox has tasted victory at the Splash for Cash, with previous honours occurring in 2002 and 2009.

Fox has a strong background in athletics, representing the Australian men’s water polo team at two Olympics Games.

Narooma area swimmers in Sunday's Tathra Wharf to Waves included Stan Gorton, Graeme Spicer who finished second in the over 70s division, Melissa Halsey, and brothers Lewis and Clifford Robertson, who finished second and in the top 10 in the 14-17 age division respectively.

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Resources Steve Whan and Ian Thompson came down from the Canberra area to compete. MP Dr Mike Kelly was also supposed to compete but was busy with duties including appearing at the United Nations in New York.

Tathra Wharf to Waves committee member Linda Badewitz-Dodd said conditions for the race were tough, as the ocean swell became bigger.

There was a large cry of “oooh” from competitors as a large wave came through while they waited at the starting line.

Badewitz-Dodd also praised competitor Corey Dimmer, who stopped to help a distressed swimmer.

“That was lovely to see and it summarises the weekend,” she said.

Behind the scenes, 140 volunteers worked overtime to make sure the Wharf to Waves ran smoothly.

Badewitz-Dodd said the 2013 event was a huge success and Tathra was busy over the two days but boasted a small-town community feeling.

This year’s competition saw the introduction of Wharf to Waves “currency” that can be spent in local businesses and has an expiry date of two weeks.

Each year, the Tathra Wharf to Waves organising committee aims to raise about $15,000 to run the event.

As it is a volunteer-run event, the committee relies on the various and generous sponsors to cover these costs.

The money raised over that amount is then distributed to community organisations Tathra Surf Life Saving Club, Tathra Pre-School and the Tathra Fire Service.

Badewitz-Dodd said the tallies were still being made from the weekend, but organisers hoped to raise over $10,000 for each organisation.