The last competition swim for this summer. As is always the way at the end of the season, it was a beautiful night with a full tide and calm conditions and we swam the same course as last week – anticlockwise around the harbour.
In the long swim of about 1700m, a lead bunch of five, Luke Kelly, Oxford Bayley, Fergus Drummond, Hayden Squance and Abbey Smale, stuck together most of the way, in all likelihood saving themselves for Saturday’s race, but on the final leg north parallel to Rocks Rd, while Luke stuck close to the boats, the others swung closer to shore, giving Luke a more direct route to the final mark and an edge as they swung around to the finish.
In the short swim of about 500m, Eva Ellena and Corey Tremblay had a terrific sprint all the way from the final mark. For a while it looked like Corey had come from behind and nailed it, but Eva found something in reserve and won by a second.
Here’s the results, click here
Final points for the season, click here
We didn’t have a photographer available for the whole night, but here’s photos from the short swim, click here
On Saturday it’s the Interislander Big Tahuna. This is a great event for us, bringing in the best swimmers from around the country. There’s no doubt we can more than hold our own in this sort of competition, with Abbey Smale having three overall wins from the three swims in the series so far and Luke Kelly having a first in Wellington and second in Akaroa.
As well, ten of our swimmers are in the top three of their various age group competitions. The season results are calculated on a swimmers best three, so those who have only swum once or twice have ample opportunity to climb the points table with four swims remaining. To see season points in the Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series so far, click here
We have had a good response to the call for volunteers on Friday and Saturday, but if you’re able and you haven’t volunteered yet, please email petergibbs96@gmail to volunteer for setup on Friday afternoon or to take a role on race day.
Have you entered The Interislander Big Tahuna yet? You can enter on race day from 6.30am.
On Thursday March 12 it’s prizegiving night, where we have a relay event, followed by a barbecue and the prizegiving.