Tonight’s race was shortened to about 750m because of rough seas, but it was still a testing little challenge.
Leg one, to a buoy just over 200m offshore,provided some drama at the front of the field. The mark was hard to spot with the sun low in the sky. Ben Marshall passed it to the left instead of the right and was followed in that error by Terry Bone and Hamish Neill.
Terry and Hamish spotted their mistake and went back around the buoy, costing them valuable seconds. Ben carried on at the front, only to be overhauled by Gus Marfell and Hamish in the final leg.
Gus, 19, is a top-ranked New Zealand triathlete from Marlborough, who has his sights set on an international career. He last swam in Nelson in March, when he placed fifth, so it’s obvious that he’s put in some work in the pool over the winter.
As Ben was the only swimmer to have cut the course short, he had 45 seconds added to his time, putting him back to sixth in the results.
The final result was a win to Gus, followed by Hamish Neill, followed by Lilly Claridge and Keshia Linyard, then Terry, who probably had the most ground to make up after the mix-up at the first buoy.
Ben was followed in the results by this season’s big improver, 15-year-old Jasper Sneddon.
Christina Harris finished tenth to be the third placed woman.
Liliana Perrett has consistently dominated the short swim. In tonight’s swim, over about 450m, she pulled out her fourth win of the four races so far this season, followed, as usual, by Grace Van Orden and Rob Sheridan.
Hayden Squance sacrificed his swim to take on the short course with his Tasman School pupils Emma Orchiston, 11, and Elysa Orchiston, 9.
Here’s the points after four races.
Kay had an assistant, Prem, helping out on Thursday. Here’s his photos
Story on Sportzhub, by Peter Gibbs
Here’s a little bonus for swimmers. Your author, Peter Gibbs, has made a return to pottery after a 30 year absence. His comeback exhibition is at the Refinery ArtSpace in Hardy St and launches at 5.30pm on Friday December 8 with a (brief) floortalk. Peter (that’s me) has made 100 wine tasting beakers (also good for espresso or whisky) to give away as samples, filled with wine from Nelson swimmer Sali Matthews (also of Riverby Estate) or fruit drinks Chia Sisters (from Ben Van Dyke, the Chia father). Swimmers welcome, bring friends. It’ll be a party from 5.30pm to 7pm. Check out the work at my website, gibbspottery.com.