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.
Events
500m
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- 8.10am
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- $15 until 5 pm, Mon 8 February
- $20 after 5 pm, Mon 8 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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- $25 until 5 pm, Mon 8 February
- $35 after 5 pm, Mon 8 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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- $35 until 5 pm, Mon 8 February
- $45 after 5 pm, Mon 8 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 Ursula Ditton 8:52 10/2/2013 2.5 km Under 50 Max Green 35:37 19/2/2017 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 Tim Booth 43:27 26/2/2012 Christine Stock 52:55 21/2/2016 2.5 km 70 and Over Tim Mather 49:16 21/2/2016 5 km Under 50 Benjamin Freeman 1:04:53 19/2/2017 Jenna Freeman 1:10:12 8/3/2015 5 km 50 - 59
Mark Wieland 1:17:29 10/2/2013 Anne Smyth 1:29:11 10/2/2013 5 km 60 - 69 Graeme Wolfenden 1:34:16 19/2/2017 Pauline English 1:47:17 19/2/2017 5 km 70 and Over Russell Wenholtz 2:00:00 26/2/2012 
Previous Results
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2020 Feb 23rdSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Acton Ferry Terminal, Canberra, Sunday 23 February 2020Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
Anyone who faced Shane Warne bowling in his prime will appreciate the varied challenges facing Canberra’s open-water swimmers and event organisers alike. The vagaries and fluctuations of water quality in our lakes and rivers constantly surprise, flummox and test the fortitude, equanimity and flexibility as much as any wrong-un or flipper served up by the Sheikh of Tweak himself.
Fortunately, adaptability is a prime quality of endurance athletes, so the shaded glade alongside the old Ferry Terminal at Acton overlooking a glass-tabletop lake welcomed an intimate, relaxed and grateful gathering to fully savour these rare conditions at one of the only beaches in the ACT open to swimming on this glorious morning. A 1.25km triangular course nestled neatly in the placid bay between Commonwealth Ave Bridge and the National Museum with no wind or traffic of any kind made for a clear, easily navigable route.
Michael Brennan interrupted his morning long training ride to swim 5km, as part of his training for the Sri Chinmoy Multi-Sport Classic in Jindabyne 2 weeks from now – and duly set a blistering early pace to establish enough of a lead to win in 1:19:07, and hold off the challenge from a strong Cristhian Molendowski in 1:19:48, with Brendon Tasker finishing 3rd with 1:32:52. Lloyd Dobson meanwhile took out the Male 50-59 (and 3rd outright) in 1:27:13; Bob Welldon the Male 60-69 with 1:50:04; and the indefatigable Terry Dixon the Male 70 and Over, moments after Bob in 1:51:16.
Janelle Ahern was fastest among the women 5km swimmers, taking line honours with a smooth 1:34:34 from the consistent Laura Marshall in 1:42:33 and Claire Stutchbury with 1:51:45. Tricia Bowman won the Female 50-59 in 1:41:19; and Janet Gorst the Female 60-69 with 1:58:48.
The 2-lap 2.5km swim saw an impressive win in the Under 50 men’s race from Greg Smart with 38:03, from Chris Boardman’s 46:01 and Max Heffernan in 46:57. Andrew Dawes took 2nd outright however, in winning the Male 50-59 in 39:53, ahead of Steve Whan 3rd outright with his 42:05. Alex Gosman added to his historical trophy haul, taking home the Male 60-69 with 48:29 in a close-run race from Tim Booth’s 48:54; while the seemingly-immortal Geoff Llewellyn continued showing us all what a true champion is, the oldest participant in winning the Male 70 and Over in 1:26:44.
Winner of the women’s race was Anne Smyth, from the Female 50-59 category in a fine 44:37, with 2nd place Ann Reid also from the F50-59 in 48:38. Fastest among the Undefr50 women came Jolin Edmondson in a solid 48:43, ahead of Carolyn McLaren with 52:47 and Julie-Ann Guivarra in 55:49. Claire Wall took out the Female 60-69 with 1:14:08.
Gianni Bonansea was too swift for all comers in the 500 metre race, winning outright from the Boys Under 17 category in 9:47. Fiona Butler took out the Female 17 and Over in 10:16; and Sean Mullins the Male 17 and Over with 12:04.
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2019 Feb 24thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Sunday 24 February 2019 – 5km, 2.5km & 500mResults (PDF Download)Race Photos
A change is as good as a holiday, and sometimes enforced change can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. So it was with the 2019 Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims, which were not able to be held at the traditional venue of Yarralumla Bay due to concerns with lake water quality. The move across the Molonglo to Black Mountain Peninsula swimming area proved a delightful and fortuitous surprise.
Due to the comparative narrows of Tarcoola Reach (between Black Mountain Peninsula and Weston Park), the loop had to be reduced to 1.25km, meaning that the 2.5km comprised 2 laps while the 5km swimmers would go around 4 times. An advantage of this reduction meant that shore-bound spectators could witness much more of the on-course action throughout the races. A light breeze created some wavy waters in the mid-lake but otherwise competitors found the course relatively fast and easy. Rowers were especially polite and patient in accommodating the new species found in their habitat – swimmers.
Ned Wieland raced unchallenged in the men’s 5km event to just miss the 1-hour mark with a superb outing of 1:00:33, from 2nd Nicholas Alnutt in 1:03:35 and Nicholas Grinter’s 3rd-placed 1:09:11. In the Male 50-59, Lloyd Dobson won a tight race in 1:17:03 from Ned’s father, Mark Wieland in 1:17:29. The Male 60-69 proved a blue-ribbon category, with Keith Bennett taking the honours in 1:26:57 from Alex Gosman’s 1:32:38.
Caitlin Risstrom took out the women’s 5km race in a fine 1:13:09, from Georgy Falster in 1:18:35 and Joanne Wilson with 1:26:02. Caroline Makin was 2nd woman outright, in comprehensively winning the Female 50-59 category in 1:16:09; while Petrina Quinn took out the Female 60-69 with her 1:53:53. Helen Rubin from Sydney was the back-marker ensuring the lake was all clear, in 2:19:42.
Melanie Wellenberg was 3rd placed outright in the 2.5km swim, taking out the Women’s race comfortably with an emphatic swim of 34:20, from 2nd placed Tracy Clinch in 37:48 and Ellie Barrett with 39:20. Anne Smyth was 3rd overall among all the women, her fine 38:54 taking out the Female 50-59 category. Clare Wall meanwhile won the Female 60-69, coming in under the hour with 59:49.
Ben Freeman proved his class once again in the men’s 2.5km swim, completing the 2 laps in 33:03, from Greg Smart’s 34:12 and Guy Boland in 35:10. Goulburn’s Andrew Dawes fronted a competitive Male 50-59 field with an impressive 36:11, from Steve Whan in 38:17, with Neil Bowman completing the podium placings in 42:18. Daryl McGill took out the Male 60-69 with 52:41, while evergreen Geoff Llewellyn – who is well over 80 – was unchallenged in the Male 70 and Over category to sweep home in 1:14:25. Stalwart Lachlan Lewis was the sheepdog to the 2.5km field, rounding them up in 1:36:37.
The 500m swim was straight out and back today, with the return swim directly towards the rising sun posing an added challenge. The most competitive category today was the Boys Under 17, producing 3 of the first 4 placings: outright winner Alex Amon in 8:01, from Oscar Morgan in 8:43 and Gian Bonansea with 9:35. Crashing the boys’ party however, and taking 2nd place outright was a brilliant swim from Girls Under 13’s Madison Amon in 8:33, from Eliza Lawton’s 15:15. Luca Auzins won the Boys Under 13 with 15:17, just ahead of his dad Edwin who earned 2nd placing in the Male 17 and Over with 15:19, after 1st placed Phillip Livingstone’s 14:38. Heather Lansdowne took out the Female 17 and Over category in 10:06, from Anita Godley’s 11:11 and Emily Hanckel-Spice in 11:18.
Our gratitude to the Canberra Canoe Club for on-water support today, and to all helpers from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team.
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2018 Feb 18thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims (5km, 2.5km & 500m), Canberra, 18 February 2018Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
Canberra-bashing is a thing. Mostly it’s do to with politics and the thought-bubble that ”Canberra” is responsible for all the country’s woes, real and perceived. Yet the outlook from Yarralumla Bay swimming area on Sunday 18 February 2018, would have melted even the crustiest Canberra-sceptic into an avid Canberra-lover.
In the 31 year history of Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims at Yarralumla Bay, no-one could remember a better day. Warm, crystal-clear, radiant, the water calm and inviting, the very air smiling with contentment: swimmers and spectators alike were treated to Canberra at its very best on a perfect late-Summer’s morning.
The standout swim of the day came from Grace Hoitink. Grace was too classy for the entire field to take out the 2.5km race outright in 35:41, smashing the women’s course record in the process. Melanie Wellenberg’s 36:43 brought her 2nd in the Female Under 50 and 4th overall. Anne Smyth took out the Female 50-59 in 44:04; and Clare Wall the Female 60-69 with 1:07:12.
James Johnston won the Male Under 50 category, and 2nd place outright in the 2.5km race in 35:54, from Nicholas Grinter’s 36:13. Andrew Dawes won the Male 50-59 with 39:02; Tim Booth the Male 60-69 in 46:48; and Terry Dixon the Male 70 and Over with an excellent swim of 49:38.
The 5 km men’s swim saw a tremendous race between elite swimmers Benjamin Freeman and Ned Wieland, with Ben winning in the end in 1:06:10 from Ned’s 1:06:16. The same two had placed first and second in last year’s 5km race, with a winning margin of 4 minutes: by closing that gap to a mere 6 seconds, Ned has placed Ben on notice! Ned’s father, Mark Wieland took out the Male 50-59 in 1:21:51; and Greg Gourley the Male 60-69 in a sprightly 1:36:30.
Meanwhile the women’s 5km race went to Caitlin Risstrom in 1:21:49 from Nicola Johnstone’s 1:28:42. Suzy Gunning was the winner of the Female 50-59 in 1:36:24. One of the closest finishes came in the Female 60-69 category which saw a magnificent race between Pauline English (1:50:48) and Janet Gorst (1:51:09).
In the curtain-raiser event, the 500 metre swim, Oscar Morgan was first overall and won the Boys Under 17 in 8:41; Thomas Palmer took out the Boys Under 13 with 9:18; and Ronald Miller the Male 17 and Over with 9:11.
Charlotte Hyett took out the Girls Under 13 with 10:56; Natasha Tilley the Girls Under 17 in 10:14; and Leisa Cass won the Female 17 and Over with 9:13.
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2017 Feb 19thSri Chinmoy Lake Swims, Canberra, Sunday 19 February 2017Results (PDF Download)Race Photos
The Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims are the oldest established lake swims in Canberra, having been staged from Yarralumla Bay swimming beach since 1987, making the 2017 edition the 30th anniversary of this prestigious event. Optimum conditions – a balmy 24.5 degrees water temperature, mirror-calm lake surface and zero wind – greeted a field of 114 swimmers for the 3 distances: 5km, 2.5km and 500 metres.
Brother and sister, Ben and Jemma Freeman were doubly victorious in the 5km swim held on Sunday 19 February. Ben took line honours with a fine swim of the 2-lap course in 1:04:53, while Jemma clocked 1:12:32. The other podium places were taken by Katelyn McGregor (1:22:54) and Jen Reid (1:27:06) for the women; and by English Channel aspirant Ned Wieland (1:08:05) and Nicholas Grinter (1:16:24) for the men.
Perry Blackmore swam his furthest distance to take out the Male 50-59 with 1:24:21; while Graeme Wolfenden won the Male 60-69 in 1:34:16. Nicolee Martin won the Female 50-59 with 1:29:20; and Pauline English the Female 60-69 in 1:47:07.
The largest field of the day took to the water in the 2.5km race, which also produced the closest finish, with a sprint to the beach between overall winner Max Green (35:37) and Male 50-59 winner John Fox (35:40). Oscar Johnston (36:38) and Alexander Lakic (37:09) took the minor placings in the Male Under 50s. Tom Booth was fastest amongst the Male 60-69 with 45:57; and Tim Mather in the well-contested Male 70 and Over with 49:17.
Janelle Ahern won the women’s race in 45:36, from Vanessa Goodspeed (46:26) and Ivy Prosser (46:45); with Anne Smyth taking out the Female 50-59 in 42:48; and Merilyn Bassett the Female 60-69 with 1:04:13.
The shortest race of the day was the 500 metre dash. Elizabeth Wigney literally showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels, winning outright as well as the Girls Under 17 in a swift 7:50; Sophie Green took out the Girls Under 13 with 10:11; and Heather Landsdowne the Female 17 and Over with 10:11. Oscar Morgan won the Boys Under 13 in 9:42; Leon Richardson the Boys Under 17 in 9:27; and Trevor Matthews the Male 17 and Over in 9:18.
