After A Challenge? It's Time Again To Take On The Motion Of The Ocean

The Sunday Age

Sunday November 26, 2006

CLAY LUCAS

AMANDA Flaherty-Spark is an ocean swim addict.

Last summer - her passion for the sport reignited by The Sunday Age Swim Challenge - she did 13 swims.

"I prefer not to go away over summer because I want to do all the swims," said Ms Flaherty-Spark, who is in training for this summer's coming Sunday Age Swim Challenge.

The Sunday Age today launches its second Swim Challenge - Victoria's only ocean swim series.

The series is for the thousands of recreational swimmers like Ms Flaherty-Spark - and for those less addicted - who take part in the individual weekend swims over summer.

Ocean swimming is one of the fastest-growing sports in Victoria - and competitors need only look to entries in Lorne's Pier to Pub swim this year for proof: unadvertised, the swim sold out its 4000 places in just five days.

The challenge was a huge hit with swimmers last summer, attracting 1000 people and helping swim clubs, who run the ocean swims, to raise badly needed funds.

This year, even more are expected to join the Swim Challenge, which has grown to include 16 of Victoria's top swims.

"I might try and do them all," said Ms Flaherty-Spark, who finished in the top 10 in her category last summer.

© 2006 The Sunday Age

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