Unexpected win in tough sea swim
Competition was fierce throughout the record field of 184 at Thursday night’s Port Nelson sea swim.
Competitors in the long course swam 1400m over a triangular course south from the Nelson Yacht Club, over to Haulashore Island, then back to the ramp, while those in the short swam faced a 500m swim over an inshore course.
With a tight start, swimmers in the long course jostled for position for several hundred metres before the field spread, giving a little relief from the tight-packed strokefor-stroke jostling that is tough on strength and concentration.
Conditions weren’t perfect, with a short chop causing the odd problems and visibility difficult in the stretch across to the island due to swimmers heading directly into the setting sun.
The odds were on Fraser Neill keeping his unbeaten record intact and taking the maximum 110 points from 11 swims. It wasn’t to be, as Thomas Heaton slipped away to finish in 13min 35sec for a win from Neill by 7 seconds.
Caught out by the intensity of the leading pair, Luke Kelly was left nearly a minute in arrears, finishing in 14min 31sec, ahead of Matt Hansen (15.38), Hayden Squance (15.41) and Jody KeefeLaing (15.43).
Amy Coulton retained her accustomed spot near the leading bunch, finishing seventh in 16min 3sec, ahead of Simon Kneebone (16.05), second woman Pip Dwyer (16.10) and Caitlin Delany (16.13).
Talya Harwood (17.06) and Kerry Mathieson (17.24) were the next women to finish, with Christina Harris (17.28) causing another upset in the women’s 50-59 section ahead of age group leader Jude Vincent (17.33).
After an absence of seven weeks, Todd Ballance, 12, returned to upset recent winner Charlie Perkins, 11, recording 6min 59 seconds for a 10-second win over the 500m course.
Brittany Spencer (7.47) was consistent at the front of the women taking third place from Jess Hildyard (8.12), Ireland Steenbergen (8.37) and Ben Alloway (8.58).
With four swims remaining in the series, most age group titles are wrapped up, but competition remains intense as swimmers start to hit their top form of the season in the warm conditions.