Margate’s Chris Graves and Chris Spiers race Atlantic City’s Vince Granese and Kyle Deroo in the doubles row.
By BROOKE FELDMAN
MARGATE – Longport Beach Patrol clinched the team title once again at the 75th annual Margate World War II Memorial Lifeguard Races Friday night.
“It’s an honor to host,” Margate Beach Patrol Capt. Chuck LaBarre said. “It has been a race and tradition in not only Margate City, but also the entire South Jersey beach patrol community.”
Last night’s race is the second oldest lifeguard race in South Jersey, making it a local tradition enjoyed by generations.
Swimmers competing in the half-mile event.
“It is nice that we have the grandson of Capt. ‘Bud’ Graves who started the event as a memorial for World War II veterans,” Margate Beach Patrol Chief Greg Smallwood said. “We take great pride in having Chris Graves on our patrol and rowing for us. It is very exciting.”
Capt. Chris Graves placed third in the doubles row alongside his partner Chris Spiers. Longport’s Mike McGrath and Sean Duffey won the event with a time of 15:24. The distance spanned roughly a mile-and-a-half.
Longport enjoyed another victory when Joseph Tepper, 19, won the approximate half-mile swim with a time of 12:36. Longport’s two first place events, and fourth place event with McGrath’s singles row, led to their second year as team champions in Margate.
Longport’s Joseph Tepper places first in the half-mile swim.
“It is always nice to do well at an event,” said Tepper, after winning the swim race for the third straight year. “To do well in one that is so well attended and so widely known makes it all the better.”
Ventnor’s Capt. David Funk came in first place in the singles row, the final traditional event of the race. Funk’s success in the singles race, as well as placing second in the doubles race with partner Brett Hanson, helped Ventnor achieve second out of fifteen for the overall team score.
Hundreds of spectators spanned multiple blocks of the beach to catch the action.
Swimmers entering the water to begin the half-mile race.
“You have generation after generation of people who were lifeguards or who come back and support the lifeguard community,” said attorney Dara Quattrone-Roch, from Margate, whose daughter is on the Atlantic City Beach Patrol. “I see that the community stays for generations, and it is exciting.”
Dr. Ken Glazier, of Margate, stood at the front of the crowd to catch the swimmers fighting for the finish line.
“I live in town, and I look forward to it every year,” Glazier said. “It is amazing that they keep the tradition up.”
The fun continues next week. Each beach patrol is preparing for the South Jersey Championships to be held in Longport Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. on 33rd Avenue.
Longport’s Mike McGrath and Sean Duffey place first in the doubles row.
