Juniors triumph the beach biathlon

THE Phillip Island Football Netball Club and Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club held their annual junior beach biathlon on Saturday morning – The Little Penguin Dash, with over 100 registrations from ages 7 to 14 years. 

Member of both clubs, Susan Fawaz registered the participants and mapped out the course with surf rescue volunteers out in the water supervising the swim. 

“The conditions were perfect, all the kids who participated finished really well. It was an all-inclusive event with multiclass competitors and all the volunteers come from both local clubs to make it a great public event for the kids,” said Susan. 

In 2016, the PIFNC went to the WBSLSC to look at putting together an event to engage their junior competitors during their off-season. 

In 2019, The Little Penguin Dash was the curtain-raiser for the Cowes Classic, which is also run by both local clubs as a senior event. 

“We had over 100 competitors completing the course today. A big thank you to all the volunteers from both of the clubs who make this event possible.” 

The event prompted great sportsmanship and encouraged all juniors to participate in their first biathlon. 

Juniors aged 7 to 10 years participated in the short course consisting of a 150m swim and a 500m run, beginning on Erehwon Point Beach then running through the Erehwon Point Reserve and down the esplanade to the finish line at the North Pier Hotel. 

The 11- to 14-year-olds covered a 300m swim and a 1km run, extending the distance at Erehwon Point Beach and through the Erehwon Point Reserve. 

“This year the Little Penguin Dash was held at high tide, giving the children the chance to catch their breath during the swim, but we endeavoured to keep the water depth no higher up to 113cm for the 10-year-olds.”