Media Release - Race #2

Blue Seventy Swim Run Series –Race 2

Media Release
24.01.08

Another beautiful evening greeted the competitors in the second race of the Wanaka Blue Seventy Swim Run series – and what an evening it was!
A field of just over 20 completed either the short course or long course race in what turned out to be perfect conditions. Earlier wind had put a small chop on the water, but as 6pm rolled around there was not a breath of wind and temperatures quickly moved into the mid twenties in the picture perfect Bremner Bay.
The Short Course competitors were first to emerge from a slightly warmer swim leg than last week, due to the shallow waters of Bremner bay which also allowed for a few ‘dolphin dive’ tactics along some of the shallower stretches. Hitting the beach first was Brendon Booth for the second week in a row – showing he is one to watch through the series! He was followed by the ever energetic Finn Fairbairn who always chases hard on the run leg, just ahead of a charging lead in the Long Course Field.
In his first of the Swim Run races local DOC worker Gavin Mason had a tough time of it in the water duelling with last week’s winner and Xterra athlete John Mezger opening up a sizeable gap over the rest of the field over the 500m swim. With these two through transition and out onto the picturesque run course around Bremner Bay’s water edge walking track, it was now time to turn to the rest of the field following in their wake.
Coming in thick and fast we saw Sarah Tweedie and George Fisher amongst this group exiting the water only one second apart 3rd and 4th respectively in the short course race. Last year’s open women’s champ Fi Fairbairn also emerged amongst this group in 3rd place over all with local vet men’s 1 and 2 Gary Tweedie and John Fisher.
With most of the field out onto the run we saw the first of the short course competitors coming home after their 1.5km run around the Bremner Bay waters edge track. Leading the field home for the second week in a row was Brendon Booth, crossing the line in a very quick 14.31sec, followed home by the fit young Finn Fiarbairn in 15.37sec and Sarah Tweedie managed to hold off George Fisher to take 3rd place in 18.17sec, a mere 3sec ahead of Fisher.
The long course was one way traffic after hitting the run, Mason managed to put a 50sec gap over Mezger in the first lap of the run and extending his lead over the second lap to finish in 18.59sec, with Mezger crossed the line a minute and a half later in 20.30sec. A hard charging Chris Booth came through the field in his preferred leg to claim 3rd place in 24.03sec.
Fi Fairbairn claimed the women’s long course again this week clearing out to beat Leigh Carter by 10sec in 25.24, Carter crossing the line in 25.36sec showing her fitness is improving as the series progresses. Wanaka’s own Marjorie Cook came across the line in 3rd position with a stellar effort on the day completing the course in 36.15sec.
Another wonderful race with the competitors enjoying every minute of the race, in picture perfect conditions and at a wonderful - Bremner Bay and of course Wanaka. Great to see all those people getting out there and having a go! This week we saw Triathlon New Zealand Representatives James and Anna Elvery’s father out there racing – we hope to see them here racing next week!
Don’t forget, race number 3 is at the Wanaka Lake front (diagonally across from the Speight’s Ale House) 5.15 – 5.45pm registration, 5.50pm briefing, 6pm race start - $10pp. Distances for race 3 are:
SC – 300m Swim, 2km Run and LC - 600m Swim, 4km Run
Dont forget to check out www.swimrunwanaka.blogspot.com for more information, full results and race photos!

End

Steve Gould & Nicky Samuels
Race Directors
Blue Seventy Swim Run Series – Wanaka 2008