Josef Scott and Mia Pugh took charge in race three, swum in perfect conditions. It was a night when locals mingled with out-of-town visitors, guaranteeing some surprises.
Josef is home from Dunedin for a family visit, while Mia, now from Christchurch, is on placement at Nelson Hospital over the summer.
Josef went straight to the front in tonight’s race, while Terry Bone and Chris Smither (Blenheim) led a chase pack, the pair finishing in a virtual dead heat on the finish line.
Last week’s winner Finn Bryant was a few seconds behind, chased to the finish by Marcel Kepess.
There was some pre-race conjecture about the women’s field, with Mia surprising the locals to win last week. An added threat at this week’s race was Finella Gibbs-Beal. The former Nelson swimmer, now based in Australia and swimming at an international level, was without a wetsuit, but dropped in for a swim while during a family visit.
In the event, it was Mia who finished sixth overall to lead the women’s field. Eddie Swain was next, narrowly ahead of the women’s trio – Finella, Lilly Claridge and Nia Linyard, all within a few seconds of each other. Mia will be here all through the summer, adding extra spice to the women’s competition.
Former series winner Zoe Borrell made a surprise appearance, swimming quietly mid-field.
In the short swim, Roger Matheson reversed last week’s result, coming in 12 seconds ahead of Ara Wyatt.
Photos by Ruth Leckey, click here
Points, click here
Story on Sportzhub by Peter Gibbs, click here