NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Masters: Open water dynamic duo set to make swimming splash

Rotorua Daily Post
13 Mar, 2017 09:20 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Autoplay in
5
Disable Autoplay
Cancel Video

Come rain or shine - you will find local open water swimming pair Glyn Eason and David Blackmore regularly splashing around in the shimmering waters of Rotorua's lakes.

Even amidst the weather bomb, which forced the cancellation of the Rotary Rotorua open water swim at Lake Okataina this weekend, the dynamic duo trained at Tikitapu (Blue Lake).

The event was the fourth and final round of this year's record-breaking Swim the Lake series in Rotorua.

And although both swimmers were disappointed not to complete the series they said the championships were a "great success".

"It's fantastic and there's a nice local community feel. It highlights the beauty of the local lakes so It's a shame to not finish but safety comes first," Blackmore said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Rotorua's open water swimmers Glyn Eason (left) and David Blackmore, pictured training in the Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Photo/Stephen Parker
Rotorua's open water swimmers Glyn Eason (left) and David Blackmore, pictured training in the Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Photo/Stephen Parker

The Lake Rotoma Kiwanis Swim, the second in the local series, was selected as a highlight after Eason, 40, won over the 6km distance while Blackmore, 42, finished in second.

"It was the first time I'd swam in that lake so to win was special," Eason said. "It's one of the smaller races but very cool."

Both swimmers are now eyeing debut success at the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland. The pair will race in the 5km open water ocean swim at Takapuna Beach (35-44 age group), along with fellow local Alan Mudie and a large international field.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's a unique opportunity to compete with others from across the world," said Eason. "I'd like to win my age group that will always be my top goal but I'd be happy with a top three placing," Eason said.

Blackmore admitted to having a more relaxed approach to the contest: "When I heard it was going to be right on our back doorstep I had to enter. There isn't any rivalry between us - Glynn is a stronger swimmer, I suspect he will get ahead early on."

Eason is well known in the local open water community, having dominated the Hinemoa Swim event in the early 1990's. He won four consecutive titles - his first in 1991 at the age of just 15-years-old.

The route started on Mokoia Island and headed back to Hannah's Bay area, a reverse of the original course while the modern different interpretation sees competitors swimming 2km across Tikitapu (Blue Lake) part of the Economist Blue Lake Multisport Festival.

"I see that as the true course, it's like you were a part of the legend of Hinemoa," Eason said. "I'm still competing now though but I feel I reached my peak a while ago. Now it's all about the young whippets coming through."

Blackmore came into the sport later on in life, taking to the open water just six years ago, but already has five New Zealand Ocean Swim series to his name and is believed to be only the fourth Kiwi to swim the Gibraltar Strait.

David Blackmore was proud to complete the Gibraltor Strait. Photo/Supplied
David Blackmore was proud to complete the Gibraltor Strait. Photo/Supplied

Blackmore, who swam the 20km strait in just over four hours last June, isn't affiliated with any local club but had trained with Henk Greupink's masters swim squad in the past.

"I started late but loved the sport immediately," Blackmore said. "You feel a long way from home out in the middle of the meeting of the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. It was an unbelievable experience."

And not content with his "epic" adventure in the ocean Blackmore is playing with the idea of completing 10 Rotorua lakes in 10 days with Eason.

Blackmore said he was inspired by former world-ranked endurance swimmer, local Grainne Moss, who completed seven epic Rotorua swims in seven days back in 2002.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Moss, a Belfast-born swimmer became the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel, then represented Ireland at international level and in 2001 swam Cook Strait.

"It would be a cool challenge. I remember when Grainne did that and it was incredible. The whole point is that we have all these beautiful lakes so close," Blackmore said. "Often when Glyn and I go out for a training swim sometimes we are the only ones out there."

Eason added it would be the "perfect opportunity" to highlight water safety in the area especially after two drowning on Lake Rotoiti this year, with three water deaths on Rotorua lakes in total.

"It's understandable that people do get a little bit frightened of swimming in open water. I want to show people you can do this you just need to make sure you have the support there. We will have a support vehicle - that is crucial. If we can raise awareness and build water confidence that would be a great achievement."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

SailGP

Black Foils 'in the hunt' after unusual day at SailGP New York

07 Jun 06:31 PM
Tennis

Gauff triumphs over Sabalenka in epic French Open final

07 Jun 05:55 PM
Super Rugby

'Just weren't good enough': Hurricanes eliminated by Brumbies

07 Jun 11:32 AM

Why Cambridge is the new home of future-focused design

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Jenny-May Clarkson on struggle of going from 'party girl' to motherhood
Lifestyle

Jenny-May Clarkson on struggle of going from 'party girl' to motherhood

07 Jun 07:00 PM
Why has Jacinda Ardern vanished from NZ? Popular US magazine reviews ex-PM's memoir
New Zealand

Why has Jacinda Ardern vanished from NZ? Popular US magazine reviews ex-PM's memoir

07 Jun 07:00 PM
How to travel Switzerland without breaking the bank
Travel

How to travel Switzerland without breaking the bank

07 Jun 07:00 PM
'Multiple explosions': Fire engulfs Auckland building
New Zealand

'Multiple explosions': Fire engulfs Auckland building

07 Jun 06:09 PM
'An eerie feeling': The jetboater honoured for his daring rescues in Hawke's Bay floods
New Zealand

'An eerie feeling': The jetboater honoured for his daring rescues in Hawke's Bay floods

07 Jun 06:00 PM

Latest from Sport

Black Foils 'in the hunt' after unusual day at SailGP New York

Black Foils 'in the hunt' after unusual day at SailGP New York

07 Jun 06:31 PM

The Kiwi crew offset bad with great to sit fourth after the day's racing.

Gauff triumphs over Sabalenka in epic French Open final

Gauff triumphs over Sabalenka in epic French Open final

07 Jun 05:55 PM
'Just weren't good enough': Hurricanes eliminated by Brumbies

'Just weren't good enough': Hurricanes eliminated by Brumbies

07 Jun 11:32 AM
Dominant Warriors make statement against Sharks

Dominant Warriors make statement against Sharks

07 Jun 09:27 AM
Clean water fuelling Pacific futures
sponsored

Clean water fuelling Pacific futures

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search