Sam may pass Pub test
2020 LORNE PIER TO PUB
SAM Sheppard has revealed his is unlikely to chase a record-breaking eighth Powercor Pier to Pub crown, declaring Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton is the man to beat in the 40th edition of the event.
As a “stacked” field assembles for the world’s largest open water swim in Lorne on January 11, Sheppard dropped a bombshell that he is likely to miss the swim that he had won seven times.
Instead, the 29-year-old will watch from the sand as teenager Hayden Cotter guns for a third-straight victory.
“I’m not swimming year,” Sheppard said.
“I’ll be doing a clinic on the Friday and some commentating on the Saturday, but I’m having a bit of a sit-out this year. But it’s going to be a cracking men’s and women’s field.
“On the men’s side, you’ve got Hayden Cotter coming back and he’s won it the last two years. There’s Mack Horton as well. This is his fourth time swimming (the Pier to Pub) and he’s got three seconds.
“We’ve also got David McKeon, who is not known for his open-water swimming but he’s a two-time Olympian in the 400m freestyle at Rio and London. Brendan Smith from Nunawading will probably make the Olympics in the 400m medley. He’s an up-andcomer but he goes under 3.50 for the 400m freestyle.
“Jorden Merrilees is another Australian representative in the 200 backstroke and he just missed the last Olympics for the 4x200m relay, so there’s quite a few (contenders) on the men’s side.
“In the women’s, Lani Pallister has won it twice in a row and she’s also coming off three golds in the world juniors and she’s looking very strong to not only make the Olympics but also the final in the 400 and 800 freestyle. this
“Harriet Brown will be back after having last year off due to injury, so you’ve got those two going head-to-head and it will be an exciting weekend.”
With Sheppard out of contention, Cotter and Horton are likely to fight for line honours on the Lorne foreshore.
“It’s probably going to be between Mack and Hayden and I reckon it might be fourth-time lucky for Mack,” Sheppard said.
“He’s come very close — twice to me and once to Hayden — and coming off gold and silver at the world championships, I think he can do it.
“He may not have the open water experience, but his pure speed might get him the win this year.
“In the women, you can’t go past Lani. I know Harriet’s won it six times before, but Lani is so, so quick and she’ll be looking to set herself up for a cracking year ahead in the Olympics.”
The current record holder at 10.02, Sheppard is content with his decision to sit out in 2020, but he has kept the door slightly ajar for a last-minute inclusion, having registered for the swim.
“For the last three years I’ve said to different people at Lorne ‘ This will be my last year, I’ll have a year off’, but if it’s nice conditions I’ll probably say ‘I might have a swim’,” Sheppard said.
“I’m in my late 20s now and I just want to have a break. I’ll still be doing all the openwater swims and I’ve got a few different goals, but with a year off I might get the hunger to come back and win it.”