About 3000 athletes will be in action in Warrnambool across three major sporting events this weekend.
The Life Saving Victoria Junior State Championships, the Warrnambool Lawn Open and the Warrnambool Seaside Volleyball Tournament will all be held over the Labour Day long weekend.
Warrnambool Mayor Ben Blain said that Warrnambool had a reputation as a sporting hub over Labour Day.
“We’ve got the nippers carnival, the volleyball tournament and the tennis tournament as well. It’s going to be really busy. If you get the chance come down and have a look, it’s going to be really amazing,” he said.
“These events really create a buzz – it’s a huge boost to the economy.
“We’ve got the facilities, we’re open and we’re ready to play.”
Warrnambool Volleyball Association President Tanya Hughes said that the Warrnambool Seaside Volleyball Tournament was celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“We started with 15 teams in 1975 and we’re up to 91 this year,” she said.
“It makes you realise how much of a fantastic tournament we do have.
“We have teams coming from South Australia, Tasmania and also Regional Victoria, metro Melbourne and we are also having the Australian Under 20 side coming from Canberra.”
Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club President Kim Tobin said that the Warrnambool Lawn Open booked out incredibly quickly.
“The Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club is welcoming close to 1000 players this weekend for our three day tournament,” she said.
“So we are very excited to have this bumper crowd coming.
“The event sold out in two and a quarter hours so a record for our event and we’re so thrilled with the way it’s building up.
“We like to feel that we offer players not just a tournament, but a festival of tennis for the weekend. It’s a bit of a carnival atmosphere.”
Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club member Harry Chiller, aged 12, said that he was looking forward to competing on his home beach.
“Just being around the ocean and meeting new people at every competition, and just the way the ocean changes every day,” he said.
“We have our state championships down here, starting on Friday afternoon and a heap of events including swims, boards, running and sand events.
“The clubs from Torquay, we have a good rivalry with them and Ocean Grove.”
The Warrnambool Seaside Volleyball tournament (at the Warrnambool Stadium) and the Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Open (on Pertobe Road) are on from Saturday March 9 until Monday March 11.
The Life Saving Victoria Junior State Championships are on at the Warrnambool main beach from Friday March 8 until Sunday March 10.
