Upsets in sea swim

The only thing certain about the Rylock swim series in Nelson is its unpredictability.

Ten weeks into the season, there have been five different overall winners.

Thursday’s winner, Mia Pugh, was the most recent and the first woman to take line honours.

For the first time this season, racing took place on Tāhuna Beach, with a 1500m course.

Apart from the hazard of rocks showing in the low tide, conditions were perfect, with warm water and flat seas.

Series leader Terry Bone set off in the lead with Ben Marshall, the pair opening up a small gap after the first mark by Rocks Rd at about 400m.

There followed a long stretch of nearly 700m directly towards the low afternoon sun, seeking a buoy by the beach’s western sandspit.

Many walkers were out on the sand, enjoying the summer weather. For swimmers squinting into the sun, it was hard to choose between the dark outlines of walkers, support kayakers and the marker buoy. Terry made the wrong choice, drifting off course and allowing three other swimmers through.

Mia pulled ahead, leading Ben to the beach with a 10 second margin, ahead of 16-year-old Waimea College running star Bella Cain-Townley, with Terry finishing in fourth place.

Lilly Claridge, Jasper Sneddon, and Nia Linyard were next, making it a great night for young female swimmers.

The short race was longer than usual at just over a kilometre.

Roger Matheson avenged some recent upsets as he plowed around the course to win from Rob Trass and Phoebe Diamond with Audrey Farreyre and Tony Munnerly next to the beach. The universal nature of the sport showed, with 10-year-old Kyan Munnerly the youngest in the field up against 80-year-old Ralph Hetzel.

Racing returns to the Nelson Yacht club for this Thursday’s swim, with the 3.8km Ironman Challenge scheduled to start and finish on the beach on Sunday 26.

Full details at nelsonseaswims.co.nz