Windy conditions and 18°C water greeted swimmers for the second weekend in a row at Marina Martinique, Jeffreys Bay during the 2012/13 Secbands EPA Swim Challenge series.
The South African series kicked off with masters swimmer Kevin Grey as the only athlete to take on the 10km race swum over the four-loop 2.5km course. In the 7.5km race, Rebecca Newman got her season off to a good start by winning in 1:52:04. “I was happy with my swim, especially as there was a lot of chop in the canals with all the wind.”
Reegan Tait from Pinetown was the first male home in the 5km with Tammy Geyer from Port Elizabeth the first woman to finish, followed by Chane de Jager. JC Van Wyk from Jeffreys Bay was the first non-wetsuit master swimmer to finish, followed by fellow JBay swimmer, Brenton Williams, who swam a 5km butterfly – very impressive swim indeed under the turbulent conditions.
Reegan Tait took the gold in the 3km with Jeffreys Bay swimmer Caro de Jager winning the women’s race. PJ Duffy was the first mastser swimmer home in a respectable time of 43:51, which is a South African national qualifying time, followed by Richden Jute. Denise Bosman, who also recorded a national qualifying time, was the first woman veteran to finish the 3km, with Angela Finlay in second.
The next swim in Jeffreys Bay will be on October 27th. Details can be obtained by emailing Brenton Williams.
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source