The Annual Hazelwood Open Water Swim was held over the weekend at the Hazelwood Pondage. Over 400 swimmers took part in the event which has been held in the area for more than 20 years. Starting as a Masters event hosted by the Gippsland Flippers, it is now co-hosted by the Traralgon Swimming Club and Swimming Victoria and includes the State 5km and 10km Championships as well as developmental events over 1km and 2.5km. This year a new event was introduced – the 2.5km Teams Pursuit event which saw ten mixed teams compete for the Hazelwood Pursuit Shield.
Saturday morning saw the running of the State Championship 10km event. Starting in calm and sunny conditions, 15 competitors took to the water to complete 4 2.5km loops between the Yacht Club and the southern wall. As the wind picked up the bottom of the course produced some choppy conditions adding to the challenge of the distance.
Sixteen year old Tom Wood from the Surrey Park club finished first over the line in 2 hours and 4 minutes. He was followed by 15 year old Ryan Gowty of Melbourne Vicentre who swam the course in 2 hours 15 minutes. First female across the line was 19 year old Kahlia Marsh in the Open female class swimming 2 hours 33 minutes.
The 10km event was followed by minor events – the 1km and 2.5km swims. Popular with junior swimmers and Masters competitors alike, these events attracted 175 swimmers. In the 2.5km event 14 year old Shaun Banzon from Casey Tigersharks was first across the line in a time of 34 minutes, 36 seconds. 15 year old Mitchell Willis, from Melton Club was second across the line in 34 minutes 44 seconds. 12 year old Oliver Nash from Melbourne Vicentre did a great job to finish third over all in 37 minutes winning the 10–12 age category. The day belonged to the juniors with 13 year old Jemima Hutton the first female across the line in 38 minutes 32 seconds.
In the 1km event – the Open Water Sprint – Robbie Dilissen (13) from the Wyndham City Sharks finished first over all in 13 minutes 42 seconds. Robbie was closely followed by Oscar Jones (13)from Bayside Swim Club in a time of 14 minutes 9 seconds. Third over the line was the first female, 15 year old Jamie Salmon from Melton.
Several swimmers took part in the Jx Clinic held for the second year prior to the start of the short distance events. Targeting novice Open water swimmers, the Jx Clinic is designed to introduce swimmers to the unique qualities and challenges Open Water racing presents. Swimmers attended a lecture presented by Flyers Coach Alex Webb and veteran distance champion Sam Shepherd followed by an in-water session focussing on technique.
Several locals competed in the 1km event with Traralgon’s 12 year old Bridget Cain taking line honours in the 10 – 12 age group with a time of 16 minutes 42 seconds. 16 year old Trent Morrow placed 2nd in the 16-19 age group, and Connor O’Neill (13) and Shannon O’Neill (16) placing 3rd in their age groups. Mark Allen, swimming in the senior section, placed 2nd in his division. Twenty Traralgon swimmers competed in the 1km event.
The Teams Pursuit Event followed the 1km race. Each team, of mixed gender, started 1 minute apart. With the last swimmer’s time giving the team their result, swimming as a unit and gaining advantage from each other is the deciding factor in this event. Surrey Park Blue team of Hamish McDougall, Phoebe Dammersmith and Adelaide Wood finished with a a team time of 35 minutes 39 seconds. Melbourne Vicentre team of Mathew Myers, Mack Horton and Natalie Vercher finished second and the Surrey Park White team of Josh Holding, Lucy Smithson and Millie Simpson finished third.
On Sunday the Victorian State Championship 5km event was held. 132 swimmers started the race under cloudy skies that darkened and opened through the race. Though wet for officials and spectators, the course, which was redefined to comprise 4 smaller laps rather than the intended 2 long laps, remained relatively flat. 1500m specialist Mack Horton, from Melbourne Vicentre was first over the line in a time of 1 hour and 43 seconds. 10km winner Tom Wood from Surrey Park was second over the line with a time of 1 hour and 58 seconds. 14 year old Adelaide Wood from Surrey Park was the first female over the line with a time of 1 hour 6 minutes and 20 seconds.
Traralgon swimmers Finley Peddle (15) and Milena deCort (13) competed in the 5km event for the first time with Milena placing 3rd in the 13 years Females division.
Full results are available here
The day was a success due to the efforts of all SVI Officials who did a terrific job come sun, wind or rain, the Woodside Surf Lifesaving Club whose support was invaluable, the Latrobe Valley Yacht Club for expertly setting the course and the Traralgon Swimming Club for outstanding organisation and support in all areas.
October 14, 2013
Traralgon Swimming Club News