Youth on rise in sea swim series
Hayden Squance didn’t need another win to clinch the Rylock Sea Swim Series, but he took it anyway as he raced to his eleventh victory in the best-of-12 competition.
It’s been years since a series race was moved from the normal base at the Nelson Yacht Club, but a regatta forced the change on Thursday and swimmers enjoyed the novelty of a two-lap 1500m course, with a short run around a marker on the beach between each lap.
Lilly Claridge topped Squance’s record, with 13 season wins in the women’s side of the series.
Both swimmers will have their names engraved on the trophies for the second consecutive year.
In the men’s competition, more mature swimmers stood out, with Terry Bone, 51, and Hamish Neill, 60, taking second and fifth places in the 18-race series. (Only the best 12 of each person's results are used in determining the season winners).
On March 7, with a week to go, Neill and Ben Marshall, 38, were vying for the third spot in the series, but the surprise arrival of Marlborough triathlete Gus Marfell, 19, and his subsequent second place in the 17th of 18 races, inched him up into third.
That swim was also pivotal for Marshall, who finished narrowly ahead of Neill to take fourth place in the series by two points. It didn’t help Neill that he reclaimed a point, edging out Marshall by one second on Thursday’s final swim.
The women’s series was youth dominated. Claridge, 16, was unchallenged, while sisters Keshia, 15, and Nia Linyard, 13, were second and third respectively.
The pair were among a small number to compete in all of the 18 swims in the series. Keshia had the upper hand in the first 14 of those, but it was Nia who dominated the final four.
Christina Harris, 60, has done her best to upset the youth party, beating both Linyard girls in the final race. Harris finished four points adrift of Nia Linyard for fourth in the season competition, ahead of Sophia Pahl, 16.
Along with the main series, competitors can choose a short option each night, usually 500-600m.
There’s no overall winner in that series, which is divided between under-16 swimmers and adults.
Liliana Perrett, 12, has been the dominant female swimmer in that series, completing all 18 swims, with 15 wins.
Billie Maskell, 13, Catherine Taylor, 12 and Grace Van Orden, 14, were separated by the closest of margins for the minor places in the younger age group.
Amy Rowse finished on top of the table for the adult women.
The dominant swimmer on the male side was Rob Sheridan, 51, while Matanga Marsden, 12, finished on top of the U-16s.
To further complicate things, non-wet suit swimmers have a separate table, recognising the advantage that a wetsuit gives.
Finn Bryant, 16, was an easy winner in the long series, regularly finishing in the top 10 overall finishers.
On the women’s side, there was no serious challenge to the dominance of 60-year-old Jude Vincent.
In the short series, Grace Van Orden, 14, came out easily on top, while Rob Sheridan won the male non-wetsuit competition.
While established swimmers had the upper hand for most of the season, it was noticeable that so many younger swimmers started to inch their way up the table.
While Finn Bryant swam without a wetsuit for most of the season, he appeared fully clad in neoprene for race 18. The extra lift was noticeable, as he powered his way to second place, 20 seconds behind Squance, for his best result of the season. He could become a dominant force next season if he continues with the suit.
The season wraps up with a relay and prizegiving on Thursday.
Full results and information at nelsonseaswims.co.nz.