22nd December 2002
In case you've ever wondered, it's 480 metres between the City and Floreat groynes. In soft sand, that's a lot further to run than you think.
A large field turned up on a hot day to contest this year's event, with many taking on the course for the first time.
In the Women's event Alison O'Toole went in as favourite, but it was Fiona Scarff who surprised the entire field (including herself) and established an unassailable lead by the three-quarter mark. She was followed across the line by Jayme Wellington, with Alison O'Toole and Alicia Marriott fighting out third.
The Men's race was expected to be a battle between Marathon champ Ken Tomczak and beach veteran Brett Slocombe, and that's the way it turned out. The two were level until the last 150 metres, when Ken was able to pull away. Running out of legs at the end, Brett was only just able to keep out fast-finishing Under 16 Dean Scarff to be second across the line.
For the rest of the field, the main ambition was to cross the line ahead of Thommo (which most did) and Eddie (which everyone did).
* All placings are subject to members completing patrol and other membership requirements
