Masterton make impact

Masterton Swimming Club members made a huge impact at the annual week long Festival of Activities in Raratonga.
Two family groups, the Voyces and the McDougalls, along with Jarrod Hawkins, took part in the events including "The Boiler Swim", an ocean swim which has participants rounding the boiler from a sunken ship in Avaruas harbour, an Olympic distance triathlon staged in the beautiful Muri lagoon and a bike race around the island known as "The Turtles".
The Voyces( Hinewai, Cameron and Craig), the McDougalls (Ashley ,Renee and Kevin) and Hawkins all contested the ocean swim. Amongst their opposition were Athens Olympian Nathan Richmond and New Zealand triathlon rep Lynley Allison, along with many other profile swimmers from Australia, Tahiti and New Zealand.
As expected Richmond was the first out of the water in 9mins 2secs but the highlight for the Masterton contingent was the second placing of Ashley McDougall in a new race record for women of 9mins 27secs.It was a superb effort, as was that of Hinewai Voyce in placing seventh overall and third women in 10mins 29secs. She was the youngest competitor in the event.
Most of the other Masterton club members finished in the top 20.
The swim leg of the triathlon provided the worst sea conditions experienced in 12 years of competition with high tides and strong currents causing a two to four foot swell at times.
Competing in the teams event were the combinations of Ashley McDougall, Cameron Voyce and Jarrod Hawkins, who entered as "The Good, The Sad and the Ugly", and Hinewai Voyce, and Julie Voyce (The Tri Tu Tus). Craig Voyce also took part as an individual.
Ashley McDougall once again showed her competitive spirit by finishing behind only Richmond and national junior triathlon rep Ben Pattle in the swim leg. She completed the 1.5km course in an excellent 20min 31secs and with Cameron Voyce also showing good form in the 42km bike ride and Hawkins likewise on the 10km run their team took out the junior team trophy in a time just 11secs outside the race record.