Making Waves – GBRMG’s First OWS
Making Waves – GBRMG’s First Open Water Swim
With the event selling out a month before entries closed—and a waitlist longer than Thorpie’s arms—the Cairns Mudcrabs committee knew they had to deliver something special for the 75 lucky swimmers. And boy, did they ever!
History was made on Sunday 1 June at Lake Barrine in the Atherton Tablelands, as Open Water Swimming (OWS) featured for the first time in the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation and overwhelmingly positive feedback, OWS is now guaranteed to return for the next GBRMG in 2027.
The event welcomed many familiar faces from the pool competition at Tobruk Memorial Pool held over the three days prior, alongside athletes who had competed in other sports—and even a few first-time open water swimmers.
Among the standout participants were 84-year-old Geoffrey Robinson and 27-year-old Megan Clark, the oldest and youngest swimmers in the event. Both competed in the 1.5km swim and walked away with gold medals in their respective age groups.
The Cairns Mudcrabs (affectionately known as the ‘Muddies’) began their open water journey in 2014 as more members started participating in local events like the Cairns Ironman, the TOWSA Magnetic Island Swim, and the Green Island Ocean Swim. The club’s goal was simple: increase participation in open water swimming across Far North Queensland and provide a safe, welcoming environment to do so.
Interest grew rapidly. Starting with social swims in spring and summer, the Muddies launched the inaugural Crater Lake Classic at Lake Barrine in May 2017. The event has run annually since—except for a two-year COVID-induced hiatus.
In 2025, with membership back to pre-COVID numbers, the Muddies proudly hosted their own Open Water Swim Series: beginning with a beginner-friendly OWS clinic in February, followed by the Crater Lake Classic in April, and culminating in the GBRMG event in June. Impressively, several swimmers began their open water journey at the February clinic and went on to participate in both the CLC and GBRMG swims.
Now part of the GBRMG circuit, the Muddies’ original 2014 vision is benefiting swimmers not only locally but from across the country. Many left Lake Barrine with fond memories, and we’re confident some will be back for the Crater Lake Classic in April 2026—or again in May 2027 for the next GBR Masters Games.
A BIG MUDDIES THANK YOU
The Mudcrabs would like to thank:
- Mackay Sinkers Masters Club for the loan of their timing system
- The Curry family, operators of the Lake Barrine Teahouse
- Tablelands Regional Councillor Maree Badee
- Our major sponsors: Gordonvale Physiotherapy (Helen Cooper) and Mission Consulting Solutions (Anne Pleash)
- And the 18 dedicated Mudcrabs volunteers who gave their time so generously
And finally, a huge thank you to the Cairns Mudcrabs Masters Swimming Club for hosting such a fun and memorable event. Your passion, planning, and community spirit helped create an unforgettable experience for all involved. We can’t wait to do it all again!
Results:
