Despite a forecast of rain and wind threatening to make for tough going for both swimmers and helpers alike, conditions turned out nigh perfect for the 7th swimming of the Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim, covering the entire 9 km length of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.
Water temperature of around 21 degrees allowed more than half the field to swim sans-wetsuit. The morning saw the largest field of solo swimmers in the history of the event, though the teams representation was thin.
The outstanding swim of the day came from 16-year old Oliver Bourne who, though wearing a wetsuit, became the first solo swimmer to break the 2-hour barrier, previously only ever achieved by one relay team comprising 4 excellent swimmers. Oliver's time of 1:56:53 bettered even the teams record of 1:58:30 set by the "Southside Slayers" in 2008. En route to his victory, Oliver set new course best times for the 1st and 4th legs, seeming to get faster as the swim progressed and the prospect of a sub-2 hour time beckoned. So fast was Oliver, that the official timing crew had not yet arrived at the finish, his time having to be phoned through by the catering staff on hand.
First female sans-wetsuit was the impressive Hayley Gosman, surprising even herself with her excellent time of 2:26:50 in this, the longest swim she has ever attempted. Jo Vaile was second in 2:41:00, while 3rd overall in this division was claimed by the event's youngest entrant, and the youngest person ever to swim the length of Lake Burley Griffin – 11-year old Swapnali Yadav, who travelled from India with her mother to participate in the race. Julie Turner was 1st female 50-59 in 3:36:37.
First male sans-wetsuit was Cory Dimmer, from the NSW South Coast, in 2:16:08, with Ross Paterson and Andrew Dawes not far behind. Graeme Wolfenden was happy to have made the decision on the morning to swim without a wetsuit, winning his category of Male 50-59 in 3:00:57.
Meanwhile, in the wetsuit 70+ category, the indefatigable Geoff Llewellyn - who turns 77 in 2 weeks time and has completed this swim every time it has been held - just missed his category course record by 5 seconds, cruising in in 2:50:31. The 65-year span between Geoff and Swapnali Yadav is certainly the largest age difference we've yet seen in this event! Greg Gourley took out the Men 50-59 wetsuit category in 2:36:53; and Melissa Clarke the Women Under 50 wetsuit category in 3:09:57.
A wonderful race developed between the two Open Teams, the "Awesome Foursome" in 2:46:19 just pipping Ric Fitch's team in a sprint to the line. First Mixed Team was the "Barramundi" pairing of Nicolee Martin and Steve Barry in 2:33:00. "Rad's Buoyz", a combination of over 50s primarily runners and cyclists who had nothing to do with Rad other than the inspiration of his name, won the non-existent award for Team with the Best Attitude, and by the way finished in 3:19:41.
No sooner was the finish area packed away than the winds picked up strongly right across the lake and the rain descended in force, to be savoured by all from the comfort of our respective homes.
Full results are published, overall and by age category and division, along with a photo album from the event.
The next Sri Chinmoy swimming event is the Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims - including 5 km, 2.5 km and 500 m options, from Yarralumla Bay on Sunday 20 February 2011.
The aptly-named Southside Slayers was the fastest team, with anchor Georgia Hardy running through the finish banner at 1:58:30, three minutes ahead of the valiant second-placers, the Tridents.
The first solo swimmer out of the water was triathlon champion Aaron Farlow, who- despite never swimming this distance before- finished in 2:05:10. An amazing effort, but as Aaron was wearing a wetsuit, first place went to Michael Skrodzki, who materialised from the water in 2:09:58, more than 10 minutes ahead of Gabriel Mecs, who came second in 2:20:12.
Lake Ginninderra, always the bridesmaid to the more prestigious Lake Burley Griffin among Canberra's water bodies, stepped forward for her moment in the limelight with a sweet smile and polite curtsy. She was clearly ready, and soon proved herself a gracious and generous hostess.
English Channel conquerer Penny Palfrey (left) danced to her own tune from the outset, her smooth, graceful strokes carrying her further and further clear of the field. Her 1st lap 27:37 was bettered only by 2 members of the winning Male Relay Team "Dickson Old Timers," Anthony Millgate (27:12) and John Fleming (26:49). Penny proceeded to offer a masterclass in controlled, powerful open water swimming, recording an outright course record time of 1:55:20.
In its third running, the Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim is attracting more and more interstate swimmers to the lake at the heart of the nation's capital, with swimmers traveling from Sydney, Broken Hill and even Perth for the challenge.
While finishers were settling into their pasta and hot drinks, Rico Fitch and Andrew Watt (pictured, bottom left), two stalwarts who swam the course together as a 'feasibility study' the year before the race was staged officially, tarried only a few minutes at the finish line before returning to the water to swim back to the start to become the first to complete a 'double crossing' of the lake. Battling steepling waves on the return journey, the pair competed their epic in 6 hours and 40 minutes. Congratulations Rico and Andrew, you are two true champions!
Solo swimmers eased their way from the Scrivener Dam boom into the bosom of an embracing lake and a journey to the far end of a city. From the still dawn bushland of Yarramundi Reach, Weston Park and Black Mountain Peninsula, their measured strokes would bring them along the rowing course with early morning training in full swing, out into the open waters of West Basin where the sailing boats sport, past swimming beaches, under the span of two mighty bridges, alongside imposing monuments and national symbols- the National Museum, National Library, National Gallery, High Court and Carillon- and across the tranquil East Basin under the gaze of Parliament House to finish on the quiet beach at Grevillea Park.
The race was dominated from the outset by two women, who combined power and grace in offering the rest of the field their wake, including all the relay teams. Alanna Hale, wearing a wetsuit was first to the finish banner in 2:12:39, with the wetsuitless Shanyn Sparreboom (top left) appearing less than 4 minutes later. Chad Schneider flew in from New York to take out the un-wetsuited men's division, while Jason Diederich (with wetsuit, bottom left) also beat a path for all the teams to follow.
