Big turnout for Tata Beach swim

Eleven-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist Dame Sophie Pascoe has been holidaying in Golden Bay since she was four years old and loves when it coincides with the annual Tata Beach swim.

"I first did it when I was about 13 or 14 but wasn’t planning to this year. I didn’t bring any of my swim stuff up from Christchurch because I thought I was just going to have a relaxing holiday in Pōhara,” Dame Sophie said immediately after being the seventh woman home in the 1200 metre swim.

“When I decided to do the swim again, some friends bought and brought over fresh kit from the Warehouse in Motueka. The wet suit, togs and cap and all colour co-ordinated in peach.”

The heavy rain last Sunday morning didn’t deter Dame Sophie.

“It’s not the first time I have done this swim in the rain. It was quite pleasant. When you have a beautiful place like this in Golden Bay, it is a great event to bring the community together. I am glad I could be a part of such an amazing event,” Dame Sophie enthused.

“I am not an ocean swimmer. I like to follow a black line so this will be the one-off for the year!”

Nelson Triathlon and Multisport Club president, Brendon Crequer, said it was “pretty cool” to have the inspirational swimmer support the local event.
He was rapt with the turnout, 115 swimmers, and the spectators lining the beach who braved the cold and wet conditions.

“It was awesome. The conditions were perfect for swimming and it was good to have so many kids competing,” Brendon commented.

And a lot of familiar faces as well.

Last year’s runners-up Hayden Squance and Nia Linyard both went one better this time.

Hayden, who won the Nelson Half (marathon) and the Spectacle 21-kilometre race last year, blew his rivals out of the water in a time of just under 16 and a half minutes.

“I reckon I have done this swim about 10 times. It is one of the events that makes up the summer. It is always really good coming over here as it is really well supported by the local community,” the 26-year-old Tasman School teacher declared.

“It was the rainiest Tata swim I have done but you don’t notice once you are in it. They were pretty calm conditions.”

Third overall, just under a minute behind Hayden, was the first female Nia Linyard who had chased home her older sister Keshia last year.

“I kind of expected to do that this time,” the 14-year-old Waimea College student revealed.

The shorter 600 metre races went to Emma Vaile and Tenger Batkhuu.