If you needed any evidence of the Nelsonian penchant for self-destructive behaviour, you only had to look those intrepid souls who partook in the Thursday Rylock Swim. Ignoring all common sense, and multiple severe weather warnings, 93 swimmers plunged head first into water angrier than Erica Stanford enduring Q&A on certain social media lists and maps. While some spent their pre-race moments questioning their life choices to that point, others were manically celebrating another opportunity to earn a weeks bragging rights. Thanks again to Rylock for their support of this event and to the volunteers who made this event possible. We sincerely hope you all made it back to shore safely with all limbs and dignity intact.
As the waves crashed with the fury of a mortgage rate increase, our long course swimmers braved the 800m course with the principal aim of breathing air and not water. Despite strong currents, challenging chop, and a new boat to swim around, Lucas Bell once again showed all the traits of a direct descendant of Atlantis (despite wearing a wetsuit) completing the course in a frothy 10:10.9, closely followed by fellow neoprene table leader Tegen Stuart in 10:57.7. Oh to be young and see warnings as invitations! Big credit has to go to those who opted to complete the long course without a wetsuit, in those conditions, it’s the equivalent of viewing a looming disaster like an RSVP to party you can’t miss! Young James Boocock completed the course in 11:19.3, oh to be young and mistaking hypothermia for exhilaration! Fran Harris, hot on his tail in a time of 13:46.1, who by all laws of maturity probably should have known better!
The ‘s’ in short course this time stood for surfing, as our wetsuit table topper Ardan Warner completed the 300m course in 7:10.6. Some said the waves were bigger than him! Jessica Bryant our wetsuit clad short course speedster was close behind on 7:56.0 leaving a lot of the young guns bobbing in her wake like novelty bath toys. Rodney Hansen continues to reign at the top of the non-wetsuit table completing the course in 9:58.1, charging into the waves like he was personally offended by the weather forecast. Anna Taksdal chasing him down, completed the course in 13:39.2 blitzing her rivals proving that goosebumps are just natures speed bumps.
The points table is finally looks like its seen some action and we can’t wait to see what mother nature throws at us next. Enjoy the photos, and remember: sometime simple survival is the best reward! see you all next week.
📊 Full results
🏆 Series points
📸 Photos – Thanks Helen