FEATURE

Cracker Day At Capital Swim

By Purple Sherbet

New Zealand Ocean Swim Series participants Liam Albery and Emma Robinson have been crowned as the male and female winners at today’s 3.3km Capital Classic swim in Wellington, where 1,250 registered participants also took the plunge across multiple swim distances.
 
Liam and Emma won the 3.3km swim in 38 minutes and 39 minutes respectively.
 
New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, Event Organiser, Scott Rice, says; “a big congratulations to Liam and Emma on their wins today. Emma is a long time NZ Ocean Swim Series elite swimmer and multiple event winner, so this is not a surprise win for her today, especially we are in her beautiful home city. Liam is an up and coming distance swimmer who is also from Wellington and who I’m sure we can expect great things from. Both winners absolutely blew the competition out of the water today.”
 

Eager participants taking the plunge at the Capital Classic in Wellington. Photo © Simon Watts

“It was also no surprise that we had another stunning day at the Capital weather-wise and couldn’t have asked for better swimming conditions.”

Other top performers in the 3.3km ‘I’m Going Long’ swim included Jay Wallwork, Devlin Forsythe, Claudia Ashby and Bayley – Rose Van De Coolwijk, who finished second and third in their male and female age groups, respectively.
 
Today also marked the announcement of the six newest members in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad. This special squad is made up of the talented youngsters (aged 7-13 yrs) who win their age group in the OceanKids 200m events from throughout the season and involves attendance at an end of season training camp in Auckland with top NZ swimmers and coaches.
 

Liam Albery crossing the finish line at Capital Classic in Wellington. Photo © Simon Watts

The Capital Classic swim is the third event in this much loved series, which caters for swimmers of all skill sets and offers an opportunity for recreational swimmers to take the plunge with some top name swimming elites.
 
Other distances at the event included; the 300m ‘Give it A Go’ distance, the 1km ‘Step It Up’ distance and for youngsters (under 14 years of age) the 200m ‘OceanKids’ event.
 

Emma Robinson crossing the finish line at Capital Classic in Wellington. Photo © Simon Watts

The 10^th season of the NZ Ocean Swim Series sees the debut of two exciting, new events; the Christchurch Crown (which will be replacing the La Grande swim in Akaroa and takes place on the 13^th of February) and the Legend of the Lake (which takes place in Rotorua on the 28^th of February). Remaining events also include fan-favourites; the Sand to Surf (Mt Maunganui) and the King of the Bays (Auckland).
 
The charity partner for the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series is Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
 
For more information or to register for this popular series, visit www.oceanswim.co.nz