Carnival called off due to bad weather forecast

Nippers are likely to be disappointed, after a regional surf lifesaving carnival scheduled for this weekend was called off due to bad weather with strong winds forecast for Sunday morning. Dongara/Denison Surf Life Saving Club president Rod Owen said on Thursday afternoon the club had decided to postpone the Midwest Carnival, and was looking at alternative dates. “It’s not going to be too pleasant for the kids down there on Sunday if it’s going to be blowing like that,” Owen said. He said he expected an update on the COVID lockdown in Perth and the South West and Peel regions today, and would wait to see whether the Busselton Jetty Swim would go ahead next weekend before rescheduling the carnival, as many local swimmers had planned to head south for the race. The Bureau of Meteorology was forecasting northerly winds of 50-60km/h tending north-westerly at 30-35km/h in the morning for Sunday, before turning westerly at 15-20km/h in the evening. The bureau was also forecasting a 60 per cent chance of rain showers and swells in the 3m-5m range. Champion Bay Surf Lifesaving Club will be running patrols at Town Beach in Geraldton on Sunday, and will also run nippers with the carnival cancelled. President Peter Nelson said if the Busselton meet was cancelled, the club would plan to hold a virtual swim off the foreshore instead. Busselton Jetty Swim organisers said they would be following State and Federal directives on the lockdown order and would issue updates on the event status. The event attracts competitors from around the State and consists of a 3.6km swim around the jetty for solo swimmers and relay teams of two and four, a one-mile swim from the jetty back to shore, and a junior swim. Geraldton Surf Lifesaving Club has been contacted for comment. Local surf lifesaving juniors also attended the recent Country Carnival at the City of Bunbury Surf Lifesaving Club. Country championships run later this month at Mullaloo beach.