Challenges and adversity often bring unexpected surprises.
Due to East Basin being closed to swimming, this year to swim the full length of the lake was not possible. The ‘contingency plan’ – 4 laps of a 2.5km loop course around Spinnaker Island – proved a very happy alternative. The start/finish area is a lovely setting for the event HQ, with all supporters and spectators gathering tougher as a community for the whole event, rather than being spread out along the length of the lake, with a wonderful view of proceedings from the tip of Black Mountain Peninsula. Despite heavy rain in the days leading up to the event, race morning dawned clear, with participants remarking on the excellent conditions: calm, clear water, very little wind and a pleasant 22 degrees.
The race saw several seasons, with clouds, rain and sunshine all taking the stage at various times.
Several swimmers were using this course as a qualifying race for other open-water swims, including Rottnest Island and the Cook Strait.
Despite starting all solo swimmers and relay teams together in one wave, the solo swimmers nevertheless dominated the outright placings, with the first placed team coming in 8th place overall.
Liam McHugh took line honours as well as the ‘no wetsuit’ championship. Having moved to Canberra just 4 months ago for work, Liam took to his new ‘home’ lake in style, winning in an impressive 2:31:17. Next home was Greg Taylor, wining the Men 50-59 category in 2:39:16. Last year’s winner, Michael Pranckl swam 2:44:28, to claim 2nd place this time in the Male 50-59 with Paul Kruger 3rd in 3:04:10. 2nd and 3rd in the Solo Male Under 50 were taken by Stanley Alston (2:49:20) and Scott Walker (2:58:31).
Leah Dodd came 7th outright, in winning the Solo Female race (no wetsuit) in an excellent 2:55:19, though not far ahead of her podium companions, 2nd placed Jodie Miller with 2:58:29 and Claire Fishpool with 3:00:05.
There are many races within a race – especially among the various age categories and divisions. When watching all the swimmers from the shore, it is not always clear where and how these races are unfolding. As it happened, the closest race of the day was in the Solo Female 50-59 (no wetsuit) category, with Judith Smart eventually taking the main prize in 3:27:15, ahead of Maranda McLaren’s 3:33:17 and Mary Yule with 3:34:18.
In the welsuit-wearing categories, Mark Pollock was fastest among the Male Under 50 with 2:43:21, from Glen Sturesteps in 2:49:15 – Glen completing the most impressive feat of finishing the Sri Chinmoy Canberra 100 Trail race AND 10km National Capital Swim, in addition to winning his first-ever attempt at the Sri Chimney Triple-Triathlon just 3 weeks ago. Bravo Glen!!
Janet Gorst has been a stalwart of this event for many years, and today showed all her customary class, taking the Solo Female 70 and Over with 3:57:00.
Raquel Holgado, one of our most enthusiastic participants who documented her swim last year in a wonderful video and was again filming today, completed the distance in a wetsuit, in 3:57:36.
Fastest team on the day, and winner of the Mixed Team All Over 50, was “CSS Plus 3” – Dave Peedom, Nicolee Martin and Suzie Gunning – with an impressive 2:58:05.
“BilbyAquanauts” – the father-daughter pairing of Scott and Kate Kristiansen – were the winning Mixed Team Under 50 in 3:19:08.
1st All-Female team was “LGB Mermaids” – Michelle Freer, Jo Abbot, Sarah Hammond and Lili Rogers – in 3:26:49.
The winning All-Male team was “Ripple Effect”, a father-son combo of William and Jeremy Rhind, in 3:51:42.
Many thanks to all organisers and participants for adapting to the changed circumstances this year so smoothly and seamlessly. Special thanks to Florian Geier and his assistants from Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scouts; to Ron Thompson of YMCA Sailing Club; and Rebekah Stamatis for medic support.
