Media Release
06.02.08
Bremner Bay
Perfect conditions once again greeted the competitors in the 4th race of the Blue Seventy Swim Run Series at Bremner Bay; the sun was out, not a cloud in the sky and barely a ripple on the water! The field was down a bit after last week’s record turnout but the racing was just as fierce!
Beginning the Long Course and the Short Course swim legs together at Eely point the competitors swam left to right watching from the transition area set up on the shore side at Bremner Bay.
Having to head substantially offshore to find some deep water the long course competitors were the first to emerge from the water with travelling Ironman athlete Nathanial Vaandering (Canada) emerging just ahead of Fi Fairbairn (Wanaka) and Fraser Hill (Waikato).
These three competitors were only 20sec apart and were a sign of the racing to come as they headed out onto the 4km run course. Emerging not far behind them and chasing hard were Leigh Cooper and Chris Booth both from Wanaka also.
The Short course proved to be another successful day for young Erin Hurley after competing in her first ever race in the Blue Seventy Swim Run series last week she managed to take control after the swim and cruised to victory in just under 19mins for the 300m swim and 2km run.
The Waikato proved to be producing hardy young competitors where Callum Hill at only 9yrs of age competing in the short course ended up swimming the long course swim and then if that wasn’t enough he ran the entire 2km run along the gravel track in bare feet, Finishing in 2nd in the Short course in 21.33!
In the long course there was some hard running going on where the men’s field was seeing the front 3 competitors close the gap to first, Vaandering finished 30sec clear in a time of 22.58sec not far ahead of a hard chasing Fraser Hill in and Chris Booth in 23.27sec and 23.48sec respectively.
The Female field was equally exciting with a sprint finish between Fi Fairbairn and Fiona Cooper (Wanaka), exiting the water almost one minute in arrears Cooper chased hard on the run catching Fairbairn in the finishing straight but didn’t have quite enough to edge out Fairbairn who had just enough to take the women’s win in 26.18sec and her 4th Straight win of the Series! Cooper finishing in 26.22sec and claiming another second after placing 2nd last week, Jackie Boyd who seems to like the Bremner Bay course took home 3rd spot in 33.30sec.
Notable performances were from Chris booth with a strong run to claim 3rd place in the open men’s field, Leigh Cooper with a strong run leg, Callum Hill for his extra effort in the swim and taking on the gravel track in bare feet and Dave Strang for completing his 4th Blue Seventy Swim Run Series race of the series and looking fresh at 66 years of age crossing the finish line!
The Blue Seventy Swim Run Series takes a break next week and comes together on the Wednesday the 20th of Feb for the fifth and final race of the 2008 series to be held at the Meadowstone end of Roy’s Bay (The main Wanaka shore front) by the green bridge at the entrance to the Water fall creek walking track.
Race 5 sees the long course competing over a 1000m swim and a 5km run and the Short Course over a 500m Swim and a 2.5km run. It’s the last race in what has been a wonderful series over the start to 2008 – if you haven’t done any of the races yet get out there there’s only one left!!
More details www.swimrunwanaka.blogspot.com
End
Steve Gould & Nicky Samuels
Race Directors
Blue Seventy Swim Run Series 2008
Steve.gould@shpg.co.nz
0212282644
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment