The Two Jetties run and the “City of Holdfast Bay Cycling Championships” are among the headline events in this year’s Bay Sports Festival.

The cycling event has a history of unveiling rising stars in the sport (Jack Bobridge and Stuart O’Grady are previous winners). This year, 19-year-old Robert Jon-McCarthy is tipped to be one to watch.

The festival starts on Boxing Day with the Two Jetties beach run from the Glenelg Jetty to the Brighton Jetty and return – a distance of 8.4km.

It wraps up Sunday with the Proclamation Classic Swim – three separate races of 1km, 2km and 5 Km.

Thursday’s criterium cycling race includes a host of participants from the Elite team’s series and is always a tight race around the street circuit in front of the Buffalo featuring SA’s men and women elite, amateur and junior cyclists.

“In the elite women’s race Tiffany Cromwell is looking for a fourth title in a row,” event manager Bryan McIntyre said.

“Tim Rowe is the favourite at this stage in the men’s elite race.

“He recently beat Damien Howson’s record in the Norton summit event.

“Russell Van Hout, who won this year’s ‘Elite teams series’ is another contender while Cameron Bayly has been a consistent performer over recent years.

“Rising star 19-year Robert Jon-McCarthy is a person to watch as well.

“This is very technical and tight circuit – the men’s race is likely to be a war of attrition.”

Other events over the four-day festival include the Sam White Memorial Aquathlon, the Bay Sports Paddlefest (a multi-event canoeing competition run in the Patawalonga Boat Haven, north of the King Street Bridge over distances from 200 metre sprints to a 6km marathon race), 3Ball (a fast version of basketball played on a half court) and, for those looking for a more relaxed and sedate contest, there’s the  Australian Allegro Chess Championships, South Australia’s premier one-day tournament.