My fellow rubber heads, it is with a heavy heart that I remind you all that there are only two more swims to go before the end of the season. Race 16 (5th March) will be starting at the Yacht club, Race 17 (12th March) will be starting from Tahunanui beach, and the last race (19th March), which has been mis-described as the ‘Fun Swim’, will drag us back to the Yacht Club. False advertising? Absolutely! Will you still show up? Of course you will!
None-the-less, all us old bonier units have noticed (and complained) that winter is skulking back in. You couldn’t half noticed that the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping, and the warm jumpers are emerging from the wardrobe like musty emotional support animals. Not to be deterred, or maybe a grand act of defiance, 100 of you streamlined souls decided Thursday was your night to go for a salty dip in the brine. I can’t help imagine your surprise when you saw the latest course design, which was Brendan’s ode to the Muppets Alphabet time, ‘W is for winding’! There were definitely a few short course swimmers sniggering away before the race start, but I am sure most of you survived the navigational delight. We say it all the time, but you volunteers are so gosh darn wonderful, and it gives us swimmers piece of mind that there is at least someone who can possibly report our last know position to emergency services. And, lets not forget Rylock, whom of competent mind and body – and apparently limitless patience, continue to support this wonderful event. Absolute legends, Possibly in need of a risk assessment. But legends nonetheless.
The triangular 500m short course (or there abouts) attracted a total of 18 swimmers, 3 of which thought that a wetsuit was optional. Funnily enough, no men read that memo and Anna Symms took the title in a streaking time of 12:31.0. In the wetsuit class, the 19 degree water attracted a total of 15 swimmers with spritely Ardan Warner dominating the men in a time of 8:03.1 and Chloe Styles dominating the women in 8:20.5. Oh to be young and flexible! Can someone put concrete in their wetsuits for the next race to give the others a chance at points?
While ‘W’ can mean ‘worthwhile’, in our case it meant ‘wheely winding’! The 1250 metre-ish course ensured that you were going to hit at least a few people along the way. Not a problem for the 14 swimmers who ditched their wetsuits and embraced the chill, although some did leave the water with scratch marks on their backs, the competition at the front must be heating up. First home was James Boocock in a time of 18:43.6 with Fran Harris hot on his heels in 22:01.9. The 76 slightly more civilised wetsuit swimmers were a tight knit bunch until the very last leg with Eddie Swain edging other white water thrashers in a time of 17:8.1 and Tegen Stewart snapping at his toes in 17:43.1.
With two more swims to go, there is still a chance for the table leaders to be toppled so don’t give up now! Patch that wetsuit, clean those googles, and cut those nails! And we’ll see you all next week. Remember – speed is simply your brain’s polite way of saying, ‘We’ll process the consequences later!’ Ka kite!
