Swimming: Bay teenager too strong for open field in Auckland

NBHS pupil Trent Kamper (right) with support crew Jade Wills who paddled a kayak while he swam to victory in the Rangitoto 10km swim marathon in Auckland on Sunday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Hawke's Bay teenager Trent Kamper overcame rough conditions to win the annual sea swim marathon in Auckland last Sunday.

The Napier Boys' High School pupil clocked 2h 20m 14s to eclipse an open field of 45 others in the 10km grind in testing conditions along a route taking in St Heliers Bay Beach and around Bean Rock lighthouse.

"It's the first time I've done that distance. The water was really rough and it was really choppy," said the 14-year-old who got help from fellow NBHS pupil Jade Wills paddling alongside him in a kayak.

Wills had the licence to supply food and water but Kamper opted only for some hydration around 5km.

"If he wasn't there, I would have got pretty lost," said the swimmer, who suspected the organisers were going to continue regardless of the conditions when they started at 8am. "I didn't eat anything but Jade was very helpful because the sun was rising when we started and it was hard to see sometimes."

Kamper was spent at the end of the marathon but took the win as an initiation of sorts that he was ready to graduate to endurance distances in open sea swimming.

For his troubles, the year 10 pupil received a medal and the promise of having his name engraved on a trophy for "wetsuit" swimmers.

Almost half the field opted not to don wetsuits but Kamper said wearing one made little difference.

The Napier Aquahawk Swim Club member, who receives open sea coaching from his mother, Karen, has pencilled in the Masters 17.5km at Lake Taupo next year.

"It'll have to be a combined decision with the family. My mother will probably be helping me make that decision at the time," he said.

Non-wetsuit wearers were the next three top finishers in the Rangitoto marathon - Dan Able, 42, clocked 2:20:46, Logan Jacka, 36, came in at 2:23:26 and David Blackmore, 42, was fourth in 2:33:58.

Wetsuit merchants Tim Aitchison, 50, was fifth in 2:36:16 and Rachel Lilly, 26, was sixth and also first female (2:40:55).