On Sunday 24 February, the Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach marked the final race of the 2018/19 Australian Ocean Racing Series. (AORS).  

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

This year over 450 paddlers assembled at the new start location Milson Park for a spectacular sunrise over the Sydney Harbour.  With south-easterly swell averaging 2.5 metres and plenty of wind coming in the same direction, participants paddled past Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head and the northern shores of Sydney Harbour on their way to the finish line at Manly Wharf. 

Sam Norton was the winner of this year’s Bridge to Beach, finishing in just 00:43:07 and ahead of Oscar Jones and Nathan Neale.  Shaw and Partners Race Team member and winner of the 2018 edition Mackenzie Hynard finished in 11^th place.

In the women’s category Shaw and Partners Brand Ambassador Georgia Laird took the win in 00:48:00, finishing just seven seconds ahead of Shaw and Partners Race Team member Rachel Clarke.  Georgia’s latest victory adds to her impressive run of previous results; top spot at the Perth Doctor and third place at the 20 Beaches Ocean Classic.

In the double men's discipline, Cory Hill, a two-time Molokai Challenge and ICF World Championships winner, teamed up with Shaw and Partners Co-CEO Earl Evans to finish the race in 00:47:49, bringing home the bronze medal.  Shaw and Partners Victorian State Manager Mal Cameron and SUP World Champion Michael Booth concluded the race in fifth position (00:49:51, Double Men).

The Shaw and Partners Foundation this year again generously committed to match, dollar for dollar, all donations made to Fragile X during the Bridge to Beach.  At the awards ceremony, Shaw and Partners’ Co-CEO Earl Evans was delighted to present a cheque of $5,000 to the Fragile X Association of Australia and renew his support for the year ahead. The total amount donated by the Shaw and Partners Foundation was $7,800.

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.

For more information about Fragile X please visit https://fragilex.org.au/