Swimmers face rough seas

This season’s Rylock swim series in Nelson had cancellations, cold, rain and tidal currents in the first three weeks. Race four on Thursday was beset by rising winds, creating a roller coaster on the first leg of 400m out into the harbour. The sea can be fickle like that.

It made no difference to Terry Bone. Last year’s series runner-up is on a mission to go one better, but he was thwarted in the first two races, firstly by rising teen Finn Bryant and then last week by Dunedin swimmer Josef Scott.

He set out in this week’s swim with serious intent, immediately opening up a body length on young Finn and holding it through the 1km triangular course to win by 10 seconds.

Pool specialist William Seymour made his first season appearance to take third, becoming the first non-wetsuit swimmer across the line.

Teenagers Marcell Kepess and Eddie Swain, regulars near the top of the field finished next, ahead of first woman Lilly Claridge.

Lilly has been the series winner for the past two summers, but like Terry, she’s been put to the test by out of town swimmers. This week she made sure of the win, holding off 14-year-old Nia Linyard by 11 seconds.

Every week, swimmers have the option of a longer or shorter course. Experienced long-distance swimmer Roger Matheson has decided to try his hand as a sprinter, but he’s seriously challenged by Ara Wyatt, a swimmer less than a quarter Roger’s age.

The pair were level pegging after two races and this week’s swim could hardly have been closer.

In the end, it was the older gent who prevailed over a course of about 350m, but the margin was just two seconds. The scene is set for further tussles as the summer unfolds.

Further back in the short course, Ralph Hetzel celebrated his 81st birthday with a strong finish.

The series has been attracting good numbers so far, with 131 swimmers taking part this week.

Swimming continues each Thursday through the summer.

Visit Nelsonseaswims for full results