Defending champion John Legge will be unable to compete in the annual Trunk Island Swim at Palmetto Dock on the weekend.

Legge, who won last year's overall prize, will not be on the Island, although Eleanor Gardner is expected to be defending her alternative title.

Organisers are expecting a field of around a hundred entrants who will swim from Trunk Island across Harrington Sound to the finish line at Palmetto Dock.

It starts at 12 p.m. and the last swimmer should be out of the water by 1 p.m.

The event has been held for at least 25 years, and there are trophies for the first male and female finishers in each of the following age groups: 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50 and over. There is also a team event.

Ashley Yearwood took the 12 and under prize last year, while Nicholas Patterson won the alternative honours. Both are expected to be defending their titles in Sunday's event. Julia Masters was the female master, while Stuart Joblin took the men's accolade. The male over 50 winner was Peter Weeden.