More than 450 swimmers from across Ontario will be competing in Collingwood this weekend.

The 16th-annual Collingwood Clippers Outdoor Invitational meet takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Centennial pool at the corner of Third and Spruce Streets.

More than 15 clubs, from as far away as Peterborough, will be participating in the event.

Any money raised through the event will go to the club, which is a non-profit organization.

Races start at 9 a.m. on both days.

“This event is a great opportunity for children who may be considering joining the club to get a firsthand view of what it is all about, and for members of the community to support their local swimmers,” said Clipper’s president Ian Whitton.

He said the goal of the club is to teach children from ages 6-18 about competitive swimming and encourage them to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

 “This season has been a very exciting one for us,” Whitton adds. “The Club expanded its introductory program to the Wasaga Beach YMCA and added a new competitive group to the program. And some of our swimmers competed at the regional, provincial and national level.

Ashlyn Karosas competed at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal in April, while Carolyn Michon was named Wasaga Beach’s Athlete of the Year for 2007.”

Whitton said the group can’t survive on fees alone, so they are organizing a charity golf tournament.

The tournament takes place on Wed., June 25 at 1 p.m. at Oslerbrook Golf and Country Club.

The format will be a four-person modified scramble and some of the awards given will include low gross team, longest drive and closest to the pin, as well as a $10,000 hole-in-one prize. Cost is $125  per person. For tickets, click the link provided or call tournament chairperson Lisa Rennie at 705-441-4073.