HEAD-TO-HEAD OCEAN SWIM

Swimmers enter the surf.

Noeline Young from Black Head: winner of the women's 50-59 age group.

Fourteen year old rising swim star Kurtis Kavanagh from San Remo on the NSW Central Coast has taken out the Black Head Surf Club’s inaugural Head-to-Head Ocean Swim held on Sunday January 3.

In a time of 18 minutes and 53 seconds, young Kuris led home the 141 swimmers in the main 1.5km swim. Second home was Forster’s Jake Loring, with Craig Boettcher from Newcastle coming third.

The first three women home were Zoe Dowsett, Alicia Ieroianni and Ginaya Henare.

The shorter 700 metre swim attracted 80 entries, with the winner again being Kurtis Kavanagh. He was followed by Adam Holborrow and Sydney’s Jon Hawton. Women’s winner was Ginaya Henare, with Hallidays Point’s Emily Nash finishing second and Tracey Zammit from Curumbin Waters finishing third.

Race co-ordinator Vicki Smyth was thrilled with the success of this inaugural event. The 210 entries exceeded all expectations. All funds raised from the day will go towards the purchase of new equipment for the Surf Club.

It is likely that this will become an annual event, and with even more swimmers coming from around the state, a significantly greater number of registrations is expected for next year’s event.