Lynne Mowbray

Bailey Armstrong from the Gold Coast has taken out both the 700m and 2km Ocean Swim events at Yamba, on Sunday.

Bailey said that he was feeling a bit of pressure during the 700m event, which was the first event of the day.

“The 700m (event) was tough,” said Bailey.

“I was pushed by some young blokes at the start, but then I got some clear water and just focused on my strokes.

It was pretty tough, and I was pushed most of the way, but then I broke away towards the end.

The second race (the 2km) was a bit smoother, and I was lucky enough to sneak away at the start,” he said.

Bailey said that surfing has always been part of his life.

“I grew up on the Gold Coast, so I’ve been swimming and surfing my whole life really,” he said.

“I moved to the Sunshine Coast for a few years, but I’m back on the Gold Coast and race for Northcliffe Surf Club.

I’ve been there my whole life, and I just love the surf.

I love this event and I’ve been trying to get down every year. It’s the first event of the year and it sets a real good tone, “he said.

When it comes to racing, Bailey said that he has his sights set on bigger things.

“I go to the Nationals, like our world championships qualifying,” said Bailey.

“I’ve been to four world championships and I’m trying to make my 5^th this year and then LA.

The Olympics are a long way away, but that’s the end goal, so hopefully I can get there,” he said.

To Bailey, winning this event, especially for the 3^rd year in a row, is a big thing and something that he finds very humbling.

“The names that have won this, that you can see up on the plaque up in the Surf Club – there are some truly outstanding swimmers up there,” said Bailey.

“I was just standing in the clubhouse looking at it before, so it’s honestly a big honour to get my name up there again,” he said.

Club spokesperson Jim Dougherty provided the following information on the event:

• There was a record number of swimmers with 293 starters in the 700m event and 178 starters in the 2000m event. The fine weather and small surf conditions certainly contributed to these big numbers.
• Sunshine Coast swimmer Bailey Armstrong was an easy winner of both swims for the 3rd consecutive year. He also won the Dash for Cash swim in a desperate finish from last year’s winner Alan Dunne of Wooloweyah.
  
  
• In the women’s events Abbie Yourell from Evans Head took out the 2000m race; Tayla O’Shanesy from Alstonville the 700m race; and former Yamba nipper Willow Rowney returned from Tahiti to win the women’s Dash for Cash race.
  
  
• Clarence Valley residents to win their age groups included Felix Forbes, Alan Dunne, Alan Lawrence, Freya Meade, Jeunesse Meldrum, Kate Armstrong and Paddy Hintz in the 700m race; and in the 2000m race local winners included Felix Forbes, Zac Frazer, Hugh Dougherty, David O’Brien, Mick Bleach, Matilda McMahon Willott, Jeunesse Meldrum, Paddy Hintz and Bobbie Winger.