On Sunday 25 February, the 2017/18 Australian Ocean Racing Series (AORS) concluded the season in Sydney with the Bridge to Beach race.

Shaw and Partners was again the main presenting sponsor of this year AORS, a national ocean racing series attracting competitors across a number of ocean racing disciplines. 

The Bridge to Beach is one of Australia’s largest open water paddling events and is regarded as one of the most spectacular in the world.   Over 300 paddlers assembled at Blues Point Reserve for a spectacular sunrise over Sydney Harbour before lining up directly underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge where the start line was situated. Participants paddled past the Sydney Opera House and the northern shores of Sydney Harbour on their way to the finish line at Manly Wharf.

Mackenzie Hynard was the winner of this year’s race with Cory Hill taking second place. Together with Rachel Louise Clarke and Michael Booth they are part of the recently launched Shaw and Partners Race Team.

For the second year running, Shaw and Partners generously committed to match, dollar for dollar, donations made to the event charity Fragile X Association.  Last year Shaw and Partners matched the $5,000 raised through the race donations.  This year Shaw and Partners doubled its commitment and matched all donations to Fragile X to a cap of $10,000.  

At the presenting ceremony, Shaw and Partners’ Co-CEO Earl Evans was delighted to hand over a cheque of $20,000 to the Fragile X Association.

The Fragile X Association of Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by Fragile X and to provide support to them and their families.  Fragile X is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioural and learning challenges and various physical characteristics.