New faces lead Nelson’s Rylock sea swim series

Finn Bryant was often in the top ten finishers in last summer’s Rylock Swim Series, contested each week from the Nelson Yacht Club.

A promising race in the Banana Boat Big Tahuna, raced off Tahuna Beach fourweeks ago, hinted that the 17-year-old was ready to step up a level this summer and he did just that at race two of the Rylock Series last Thursday.

After the disappointing cancellation of race one the previous week, things didn’t look promising for race two either, with pouring rain and freezing temperatures at 5.30pm.

Amazingly, at 6pm on the dot, the clouds scudded away and the sun came out, leaving cold air conditions but refreshing water temperature as 120 swimmers set off on triangular courses of either 900m or 350m.

A group of half a dozen led the long race out to the first buoy in mid-harbour, with Terry Bone ahead at the turn and holding the advantage around the second mark before the group stretched out heading north towards the finish.

The going was harder against the tide, and as the group passed the Boat Shed, Finn Bryant cruised into the lead. Terry said it looked easy for the teenager, but Finn expected every moment to have his wings clipped. It wasn’t to be – Finn held on to the end, winning his first-ever swim in the series and now holding the yellow jersey going into race three.

Next was Eddie Swain, followed by Bay of Plenty swimmer Mia Pugh, Jasper Sneddon, Marcel Kepess, Lilly Claridge, Max Stanton and Nia Linyard.

The women’s competition is intriguing, with two-time season winner Lilly under threat from Mia, if she remains in town, and 14-year-old Nia, who is growing stronger all the time.

Roger Matheson opted to change his focus from the long to the short course races this summer. The 63-year-old couldn’t hold off Ara Wyatt, 14, who raced through the 350m course in a touch over four minutes, with Roger seven seconds behind.

In a democratic spread of ages, Phoebe Diamond, 12, was next, followed by Malcolm Fairhall, 60, Marco Snedden, 11 and Rosie Claridge, 13.

Elsewhere in the competition, this summer ushers in the first competition yet in the women’s 70+ age group, with training partners Odette Llewellin going head to head.

Representing the sponsors Rylock, the Clements brothers Philip and Steve, showed their devotion to the series, taking out the top two places in M60-69.

The closest competition of the night was in M30-34, where Rowan Gardner took the win over Fenn Anderson by less than a second, pointing to a closely-fought series ahead.

The series continues weekly through to March.

More information can be found here.