Nelson swimmers take on historic stretch of water

Ten Nelson swimmers picked up six medals at the first race of the Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series in the Bay of Islands last Saturday.

Terry Bone was fourth overall in the 3.3km race, while Christina Harris was the sixth woman to run up the beach.

The Generation Homes Beach to Bay swim takes competitors across the 3.3km stretch of water between Paihia and Russell.

In contrast to the stormy conditions of last year, the 300 swimmers faced relatively calm seas for the dawn start.

Last year's winner, teenager Alex Dunkley, was untroubled to win the event from Axel Wolfarth, the pair repeating their one-two feat of a year ago.

Bone broke an Auckland stranglehold to finish fourth, winning silver in M50-54 behind Wolfarth.

Hamish Neill slipped inside the top ten, taking ninth and winning a gold medal in M60-64.

Christina Harris finished ten seconds behind her old rival Lynette Griffith of Christchurch, the pair taking the gold and silver in F60-64.

Raphael Borborema was only nine seconds behind, scooping up silver in M40-44, keeping him on track to repeat his series age group title of last summer.

Jude Vincent couldn't quite get among the medals in F60-64, finishing fourth, but she picked up gold in the non-wetsuit division.

Nelson's legendary Bishop Derek Eaton may have had divine assistance, but the 82-year-old, the oldest swimmer in the race, finished comfortably in the top half of the field to take an undisputed gold medal in M80-84.

Stuart Hebberd was unlucky to be out of the medals, finishing fourth in the highly competitive M75-79 section.

The next event in the Banana Boat Series is the 4.6km swim from Rangitoto Island to St Heliers Beach in Auckland on November 26.

Nelson swimmers may have other priorities on that day, as the Rylock Endurance Series gets underway with a 2km swim from Tahuna Beach to the Nelson Yacht Club.