Record breaking Channel Challenge: It was a race that broke records for competitor numbers and marked the end of another successful Bass Coast Series. Local competitors rose to the challenge, taking top spot in many race categories, with several securing category wins in the overall series as well. Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
Champions Justin Tilley and Zoe Adams. Justin came third overall, and won both O/40 Male Awards and the Lyall Williams Memorial Trophy as the best local competitor in the Bass Coast Series. Zoe was the first woman across the line and ninth overall and won both Open Women sections of the Bass Coast Series.
Leading the field, Callum McCluskey came flying over the bridge, to win the 2025 San Remo Channel Challenge for the third time.
Competitor Courtney Ford and guest starter Bobby Bajram.
Competitors in the Junior Female category: Tilly McKenna (9th), Abbey Clarke (2nd) and Zoe Scott (4th). Abbey also won the Junior Female Awards in the Bass Coast Series.
Chris Dallinger and his father Brian, who competed in his 39th Channel Challenge. There were three generations of Dallingers in the event, with Brian's grandchildren Lachlan and Archie Dallinger also competing.
From Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club, President Jason Close and his daughter Erin, Kieran Vessey, Blake Smith and Glenn Vessey.
Suzie Herrington, Rebekah Fincher, Emma Moore and Sarah Smith. As well as their success on the day, Sarah won both the O/40 Female category in the Bass Coast Series, while Suzie took home the local O/50 Female award for the series.
Super Veteran Bob Matthews heads for the finish line at the 39th San Remo Channel Challenge.
Jan (shark) and Anna (unicorn) were at the finishing line to cheer on Stewart Bryden.
Another beautiful day in San Remo, as competitors get ready for the 39th Channel Challenge.
Local Steve Mahood crossing the finish line, one of a record 850 competitors who registered for this year's event. Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
Newhaven's Yvonne Brown competed in the event, cheered on by friend and support crew Karen Cahill. Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
These two competitors also had a bit of fun with the run, dressed as a monkey (Spanno) and a banana (Lachy). Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
Members of the San Remo SES were also on hand to help make sure the event ran smoothly. Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
Lifesavers from WBSLSC kept a watchful eye on the swimmers as they crossed the channel from San Remo to Newhaven. Photo: Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
The choppy conditions saw nine swimmers pulled from the water by lifesavers, after being unable to complete the channel crossing. Nici Cahill, Snapshot Photography.
The 39th Channel Challenge held on Saturday March 1, was certainly one for the record books.
Competitors in the 2025 Channel Challenge, the final leg of the Bass Coast Series, set off under sunny skies in front of a massive crowd of spectators that lined up on the jetty and the bridge.
There was a slight breeze to put a little chop onto the water's surface but that just made the event live up to its reputation as a challenge worth doing.
There were several firsts for this year's event.
- The first time there were 850 registered competitors: 684 Individuals and 83 relay teams.
- The first time there were more than 750 swimmers (767) plus 83 relay team runners.
- The first time entries were closed off once the cap of 850 competitors was reached.
- The first time more than 1500 competitors lined up for the three Bass Coast Series events.
- The first time an Elite Wave was created so that the top Male and Female competitors could race together.
- The first time two winners were declared: the Fastest Female and the Fastest Male: two $500 prizes awarded.
Closing entries when the capped number was reached on Wednesday afternoon caused a lot of panic and consternation in the local and wider community.
Organisers had been warning this might happen and posted notices locally for people not to leave their registrations until the last minute, but many were still caught out.
Organisers said it was disconcerting to see people trying to swap and trade entries on Facebook and "that was quickly knocked on the head". The message for next year is to get in early.
With a record number of competitors, accompanied by their family and friends, there was a terrific buzz around San Remo as the race drew close to starting time.
There was a loud cheer when guest starter, Bobby Bajram blew the horn to set the Elite Wave off.
As the five waves of competitors pushed across the Channel there were nine competitors who asked for assistance and a ride back to shore in one of the rubber duckies crewed by the Woolamai Beach Lifesavers.
Race organisers said none of the nine were in any real trouble, they were just not fit enough to get across the channel.
They said it was a low number for such a large event, and advised prospective competitors to ensure they have prepared properly for these events in the future.
Competition was strong and Callum McClusky prevailed in the Men's section after following Hamish McDougall out of the water, but hauling him in on the run leg for his third overall victory in the Channel Challenge.
Local competitor, Justin Tilley, finished third and completed a stellar summer with two overall wins and a third over the three events of the Bass Coast Series. In the Women's section another local, Zoe Adams, finished the summer unbeaten after overall victories in all three events.
Results
Local competitors dominated the Bass Coast Series results with seven locals taking home the Bass Coast Series Awards for both the Open and Local prizes in their respective categories.
Justin Tilley won both O/40 Male Awards and the Lyall Williams Memorial Trophy as the best local competitor.
Andre Hetebrueg took out both prizes for the Senior Male Categories.
Zoe Adams won both of her Open Female Categories with three victories in the series events.
Finlay Cameron had a great summer and won the Junior Male Awards, while Abbey Clarke matched Finlay's achievement with the two Junior Female Awards.
Sarah Smith continued her successes with both titles in the O/40 Female categories, while Rob Fleisner again went home with multiple awards in the O/60 Male sections.
Three other locals - Marcus Bond (O/50 Male), Suzie Herrington (O/50 Female) and Carolyn Rushford (O/60 Female) took home Bass Coast Series Awards.
Thank you
Ron Nicholson from the organising committee thanked Phillip Island and San Remo Rotary for again providing a market and the San Remo Hotel for sponsoring the popular Tug-Of-War Competitions.
"These were won by the Male Team from the Phillip Island Football Netball Club (PIFNC) and the Female Team from the San Remo Hotel.
"Also, thanks to Paul Cooper for his great job as race commentator."
Ron acknowledged the work of the "great team from the Woolamai Beach SLSC" who oversee the organisation of the event.
"Thank you to Melina, GB, Sully, Max, Ryan, Georgie, Michelle and Ron - and they work in conjunction with officers from Bass Coast Shire Council, SES, Rotary, San Remo Hotel, traders, PINFC, to create one of Victoria's best community events which is still growing after 39 editions."
There is expected to be a lot of interest in the 2026 Channel Challenge, which will mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic race.
"Now that Brian Dallinger has got through his 39th race he will be eager to reach the finish line next year and retire as the only man on the planet to have finished all 40 Channel Challenge events," Ron said.
