Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims
Choose from 3 options - 5km, 2.5km and 500m
About the event
The Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims offer 3 distance options: 5km, 2.5km and 500m.
The swims are intended as a true test of swimming ability and skill, for swimmers not wearing wetsuits. Hence Awards are presented only to those swimmers who complete the event without wearing a wetsuit. Swimmers may wear wetsuits if they desire, though they will not be eligible for Awards. Results of all finishers will be published on this website, with the wearers of wetsuits noted in a separate section.
In addition, in late November or early December each year, the Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim is staged along the full 10km length of Lake Burley Griffin for solo swimmers and relay teams of 4.
Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims 2024
Enjoy the calm ambience of Canberra's longest-running open water swimming race.
Events
500m
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- 8.10am
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- $15 until 7pm, Mon 3 February
- $20 after 7pm, Mon 3 February
- Add $5 one-race licence fee (per entry) for non TA members
- View course map »
2.5k
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- 8.05am
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- $30 until 7pm, Mon 3 February
- $40 after 7pm, Mon 3 February
- Add $5 one-race licence fee (per entry) for non TA members
- View course map »
5k
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- 8am
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- $40 until 7pm, Mon 3 February
- $50 after 7pm, Mon 3 February
- Add $5 one-race licence fee (per entry) for non TA members
Contact
Prachar Stegemann
0404 071 327
Send Email
Award Categories
Awards are presented in the following categories:
5 km and 2.5 km Lake Swims
Male and Female Under 50: 1st place to 3rd place
Male and Female 50 - 59: 1st place to 3rd place
Male and Female 60 - 69: 1st and 2nd place
Male and Female 70 and over: 1st place
500 m Lake Swim
Boys and Girls Under 13: 1st to 3rd place
Boys and Girls Under 17: 1st to 3rd place
Male and Female 17 and over: 1st to 3rd placeCourse Records
Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims
Distance Age Category Male Time Date Female Time Date 500 metres Under 13 Henry Palmerlee 8:05 26/2/2012 Elizabeth Wigney 8:57 8/3/2015 500 metres Under 17 Oscar Johnston 8:06 21/2/2016 Elizabeth Wigney 7:50 19/2/2017 500 metres 17 and Over Wayne Miller 8:00 10/2/2013 Mikaela Cooper 8:46 18/2/2024 2.5 km Under 50 James Thorp 32:47 18/2/2024 Grace Hoitink 35:41 18/2/2018 2.5 km 50 - 59 John Fox 35:40 19/2/2017 Anne Smyth 40:25 21/2/2016 2.5 km 60 - 69 Andrew Dawes 42:43 18/2/2024 Anne Smyth 45:14 20/2/2022 2.5 km 70 and Over Trevor Scott 46:23 20/2/2022 Ann Sullivan 1:06:37 16/2/2025 5 km Under 50 Benjamin Freeman 1:04:53 19/2/2017 Chloe Brodrick 1:06:24 16/2/2025 5 km 50 - 59 Michael Pranckl 1:16:44 18/2/2024 Nicolee Martin 1:28:51 20/2/2022 5 km 60 - 69 Mark Wieland 1:27:30 18/2/2024 Suzie Gunning 1:35:08 19/2/2023 5 km 70 and Over Graeme Wolfenden 1:34:16 18/2/2024 Janet Gorst 1:52:21 16/2/2025 
Previous Results
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2025 Feb 16thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, Sunday 16 February 2025Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
Friday was rainy; Saturday was windy; Sunday was … choose your superlative. Admittedly, it was rather chilly for the spectators who woke up to the coldest morning of the year yet – but not for swimmers immersed in water considerably warmer than the air above. Rarely have so many emerged from the lake emitting such an effusion of satisfaction.
The largest field since 2018 gathered by Sri Chinmoy’s statue at Yarralumla Swimming Beach for one of 3 distances – 5km (4 laps of a 1.25km loop), 2.5km (2 laps) or the 500m ‘sprint’ race.
The 5km race saw a masterclass presented by Chloe Brodrick, who led virtually from the start to break a 10-year-old course record, winning the race outright in a scintillating 1:06:24. Chloe was 20 minutes clear of 2nd placed Rachel Russell with 1:26:41, ahead of Mallory Dobner’s 1:33:24. Janelle Ahern took out the F50-59s with 1:38:33; and Susan Henderson won the F60-69 in 2:08:33; while a new course record was set in the F70 and Over category by the amazing Janet Gorst, with 1:52:51.
Chloe Brodrick was shadowed for most of the way by men’s winner, Liam McHugh, whose 1:06:25 may have been eclipsed by Chloe’s swim, but was still 16 minutes ahead of his nearest rivals in Michael Brennan (1:22:56) and Yiannis Eliopoulis (1:24:24). Tom Cannon was impressive in taking out the Male 50-59 category with 1:26:45; while the ever-consistent Mark Wieland continued his domination of the M60-69s with 1:33:29.
The 2.5km swim didn’t boast the superstars of the 5km field, but attracted the largest, most diverse pool of participants. Mitchell Bainbridge was a clear winner, swimming alone for most of the way to cross the finish in 39:07, from Gregory Smart’s 40:08 and Duane Russell with 44:01. Rohan Essex (48:30) barely held off a challenge from Ben Crabb (48:38) to take out the M50-59; while Andrew Dawes continued his winning ways at this race, not far off his own course record with 43:56 to win the M60-69 ahead of Steve Whan (44:15).
In the women’s 2.5km race, Laura Van Den Honert took the main prize with 43:36 ahead of Megan O’Neill with 44:05 and J’aime McGuire’s 44:19. The F50-59 race was another very close finish, with Beth Bowen (46:32) edging Sile Crowe (46:35) in the sprint to the line. The indomitable Anne Smyth is one of the most consistent swimmers in Canberra, again winning the F60-69 with 46:01; while Ann Sullivan claimed a new course record in the F70 and Over with her swim of 1:06:37.
In the 500m race, Aurelie Leanne took line honours in winning the Girls Under 17 with a fine swim of 8:10; ahead of Aron Lombardi, winner of the Male 17 and Over with 8:17; ahead of Julie Hercus (Female 17 and Over winner) with 11:17; and Lisa Winnssinger’s Girls Under 13 victory of 12:36.
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2024 Feb 18thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Canberra, Sunday 18 February 2024Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
Calm waters and clear skies welcomed swimmers, helpers, supporters, swans and spectators at Yarralumla Swimming Beach for a revered Canberra tradition – the annual 5km, 2.5km and 500m Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims.
If there were an award for best family performance EVER, the Wielands from Sydney today put their stamp on this event in emphatic fashion. Son, Ned Wieland won the 5km swim outright by a whopping margin with 1:07:55; dad Mark Wieland claimed 1st place Male 60-69 in the 5km in 1:27:30 (new age group record); daughter, Tippy won the women’s 2.5km race outright in 42:47; mum Pip Wieland came 2nd in the Female 50-59 in the 2.5km with 53:00; while while brother Duke came 2nd in the Male Under 50s of the 2.5km with 33:20! (it took a new course record to defeat him…)
Full results by category are listed on the website – here we mention only some amazing Course Records which fell on the morning:
Helen Rubin, mindful that no over 70s woman has ever completed the 5km swim at this event, wrote herself into the history books with a trailblazing 2:52:46. No matter who comes after her, she will always be the first to hold this coveted record! Not to be outdone, Graeme Wolfenden, also participating in the over 70s for the first time, not only lowered the men’s record in this new category, he exactly equalled his standing record in the Male 60-69 from 7 years ago, to the second – of 1:34:16! It’s a good thing that Graeme did step up a category too, because his Male 60-69 record meanwhile succumbed to Mark Wieland’s outstanding swim of 1:27:30. Mark, in turn, had to surrender his existing Male 50-59 record to the flying Austrian, Michael Pranckl, whose fine performance of 1:16:44 also earned him 2nd place outright.
James Thorp seemed to swim the entire 2.5km in a sprint, dashing to the line in a new all-time best of 32:47. Also in the 2.5km, Andrew Dawes smashed a 12-year-old record in the Male 50-59 with his outstanding 42:43 (which placed him 4th overall).
In the 500m dash, Mikaela Cooper broke an 11-year old record in the Female 17 and Over with her outstanding 8:46, which also won her the race outright (2 seconds ahead of Male 17 and Over winner, Oscar Morgan’s 8:48).
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2023 Feb 19thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Canberra, Sunday 19 February 2023Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
Like a vagabond, the Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims has roamed from place to place for several years, so it was with a welcome sense of homecoming to hoist the banner alongside the Sri Chinmoy “Dreamer of Peace” statue, and see swimmers toe the water once more at Yarralumla Bay swimming beach.
The lake has never appeared more welcoming than on this morning, a placid surface beckoning under a sky of languid blue. With ever-increasing traffic enjoying the lake on a perfect Sunday morning, and to shepherd the field as closely as possible, a 1.25km loop was selected for the occasion – swum twice for the 2.5km swim and 4 times for the 5km race, which was first to take the plunge.
In the men’s race, 17-year-old William Aikman was unchallenged from the start, swimming in clear water with decisive strokes to claim the laurel wreath in an impressive 1:15:45. Next home was local hero, Perry Blackmore, his 1:20:07 taking out the Male 50-59 category. Next home was champion swimmer Michael Brennan with 1:25:12, from Peter Debeljakovic’s 1:27:54. Vincent Dunn took 2nd place in the M50-59 with 1:31:14, with Balarka Robinson 3rd in 1:35:49. Matt Carkeet was first home in the M60-69 with 1:40:34.
Beth Bryan swam a beautifully controlled race to take out the women’s event in 1:24:10, from Emily Kempson with 1:29:57. Susie Gunning swam a marvellous race to take 3rd among all the women and establish a new course record in the F60-69 of 1:35:08 – just in front of Janelle Ahern who was first amongst F50-59s with 1:35:34, ahead of 2nd placed Kerry-Ann Michels with 1:41:19 and Susan Henderson in 2:05:13. The ever-green Janet Gorst took 2nd in the F60-69 with 1:53:59.
The 2-lap race was next to set sail, and proved a much closer contest - Kipp Kaufman, drawing away in the end to take line honours with 35:04 from 2nd placed Cameron Boland with 35:46 and Gregory Smart’s 38:14. Andrew Dawes led the Male 50-59 category with 41:32, from Peter Thorley’s 42:59 and Aston Duncan with 47:46. Grant Thomas took out the M60-69 with 48:48 from Alex Gosman’s 49:12 and Craig Kentwell with 49:43; while Terry Dixon carried the banner for the Male 70 and Over with 58:15.
Melanie Wellenberg was a fine 3rd outright in the race, while winning the women’s event in 37:21, from 2nd placed Tara Olsthoorn with 40:21 and Sabrina Moir in 41:51. Monica Lindemann was best among the F50-59 with 55:54, followed by Tina Woodward’s 57:12. The immortal Anne Smyth won the F60-69 with a fine 46:42, from Belinda Robinson’s 1:00:49; while Helen Rubin set a new record for the Women 70 and Over in the 2.5km swim with 1:25:10.
The 500 metre sprint race was won by Stephen Blake for the men in 9:38, from Sebastian Cox with 9:52 and Hannes Hollmann in 9:54; while Mikaela Cooper claimed the women’s race with 9:30, from Amanda Coggins in 10:41 and Heather Lansdowne’s 10:45.
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2022 Feb 20thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Sunday 20 February 2022Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
A perfect morning for the Sri Chinmoy 5km, 2.5km and 500m lake swims at Yarralumla Bay. The water was silky smooth and the skies were clear. Close to 100 swimmers arrived to test out the waters and their abilities over the three distances, affording everyone an opportunity to feel the thrill of racing again!
Our 5km warriors set off first, tackling 4 laps of the 1.25km course, giving us all at the shore a thrill as they came motoring in each time to start their next lap. The clear leader from the start was Harry Braddick, with a swimming style that was a joy to watch as he approached the shore to finish in a time of 1:08:35. 2nd place went to James Waldersee in a great time of 1:21:38 and not far behind him Peter Debeljakovic in 1:24:35. In the women's under 50 category, Emi Cashman took out the honours in a time of 1:16:01 and also comfortably claimed second overall, emerging from the water looking fresh and strong. Second place went to Orlanda Sexton in 1:24:26 and third place to Ashleigh Webb in a time of 1:26:35.
Nicolee Martin swam one of the performances of the day to set a new course record for the Female 50-59 in the 5km race, with a fine 1:28:51; while Janet Gorst continued her stirling form in the F60-69 with 1:50:10. Perry Blackmore won the M50-59 category in 1:20:55; while Graeme Wolfenden took out the M60-69 in 1:36:42.
In the 2.5km race, Tyler O'Keefe led from the start, with a course record time of 34:32!! No wonder when second place Gregory Smart came in with the excellent showing of 37:34, he hadn't seen Tyler even out in the distance. Third place went to Billy Nicoletti in 45:02. We might be able to see course record for the Sri Chinmoy National Capital 10km Length of the Lake being broken later this year, if Tyler gets a team together.
Taking out the Women's 2.5km event, Megan O'Neill won in 43:36, with Amy Dwyer coming in 2nd with 45:35, followed close behind by third place Kim Louw in a time of 46:27.
Our Men's 70 and over record in the 2.5km was also smashed today with Trevor Scott's time of 46:23, taking over two and a half minutes from the previous course record set in 2016.
Anne Smyth who currently holds the record for the Women's 50-59 in the 2.5km can now add a new record to her name. Anne won the Women's 60-69 race in the 2.5km in 45:14, taking a whooping 7 minutes off the previous record time.
In our sprint race today over 500m, first place in the Male 17 and over went to Jeremy Chen, in a time of 10:32, followed closely by Greg Little in 10:52, with third place going to Toby Smith in a time of 12:23. The Women 17 and over first place went to Heather Lansdowne in 10:15, second going to Brittany Meers in 11:08 and third to Lucy Jesiolowski in a time of 12:44.
Much gratitude to all for coming to enjoy a morning out on the lake, test your fitness and enjoy some great company, we look forward to seeing you all at our next race.
