2010 EPIC SWIM FESTIVAL

Open water swimming is increasing in popularity both in New Zealand and internationally. As a result Swimming New Zealand, supported by Flight Centre and www.eventscapital.co.nz, is launching a new event: The ‘Epic Swim Festival’, at Lake Taupo 16-17 January 2010.

The Epic Swim Festival is a combination of recreational swimming with children’s 100m and 300m swims plus a 2km and 5km swim for adults. Ironmen and those serious about open water swimming will compete in the Epic 5km, which is the longest open water recreational swimming race in the country.

Swimming New Zealand has been developing its open water swimming programme under the leadership of Philip Rush who swam the Cook Strait seven times including the first double crossing and still holds the record for the fastest ever double and triple crossing of the English Channel.

In conjunction with the Epic swim, Swimming New Zealand will hold its 5km and 10km open water champs where New Zealand’s top open water swimmers will compete for the New Zealand title, as well as selection for international events including the 2012 London Olympics.

Auckland’s Alannah Jury, who this year competed in the 10km Open Water World Champs in Rome and finished only 23 seconds behind the world champion, will be racing in Taupo. In the men’s field, Philip Ryan from Waterhole Swimming Club in Auckland will be defending his 2009 title and will also be trying to qualify for next year’s Open Water World Championships in Canada.

There are open water races for all age groups with the New Zealand Masters 2.5km Open Water Champs also forming part of the Epic Swim Festival.

This is a fantastic series of events for all levels and a wonderful opportunity to swim in the beautiful waters of Lake Taupo. For more information on the Epic Swim Festival or to enter one of the events, visit www.epicswim.co.nz - see you there!

PNZ National Championships
In Wellington on 13-15 November, ParaFed Wellington hosted the 37th Mitsubishi Motors PNZ National Championships.

One highlight at the opening was a celebrity swim featuring some of New Zealand’s swimming champions and Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne.

Double Olympic medallist Danyon Loader swam for the Ferns, seven times Cook Strait swimmer and record holder for the fastest ever double and triple crossing of the English Channel Philip Rush swam for the Dolphins, Olympian and gold, silver and bronze Commonwealth Games medallist Rebecca Perrott swam for the Stars and 2009 Featherston Business House Relay champion, Swimming New Zealand’s chief executive Mike Byrne lined up for the Die Hards.

There were seven teams racing and the winner on the day was the Dolphins. Daniel Sharp, Gold medallist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, swam strongly to help the Dolphins take out the race. Danyon Loader’s team Ferns were second with Rebecca Perrott’s Stars’ finishing off the top three.

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STORY BY + MELISSA INGRAM
PHOTOS COURTESY + MIKE BYRNE