Swimming club reaps results in river race

The swimmers leaving the Aramoho Rowing Club for the start of the 3km race. Photo/Bevan Conley

It may not be their usual blue 50m by 25m pool with chlorine in their nostrils, but the members of the Wanganui Swimming Club took to the annual Bridge to Bridge swim like ducks to water on Saturday morning.

The Wanganui Multisport and Triathlon Club's 3km or 1km swim down Whanganui River to the Union Boat Club attracted a strong field of 74 entrants, including 34 men and 19 women taking part in the long course version.

Swimming club member Stefan Hannan was first out of the water in 35.50 minutes, closely followed 47 seconds later by triathlete James Wright, as the leading 3km swimmers dove into the water at the Aramoho Rowing Club and still finished ahead of the short course competitors who departed from Pitt St, near the Dublin St Bridge.

Recently turned 16, Hannan had enjoyed river racing, which was very internal as he had to go out alone rather than having an idea where the other swimmers were.

"It wasn't choppy. I was planning on swimming on somebody's feet but I couldn't see him.

"Just a couple of us decided we'd come down and give it a try, a bit of fun."

His clubmate and nationally-ranked swimmer Laura O'Keeffe was third overall and well ahead of the rest of the women's field with a 37 minute finish.

"It was good fun, something different," she said.

"I did one ocean swim a Splash 'n Dash in New Plymouth but this is really good."

The swimming club members are currently training for a number of meetings, which for O'Keeffe will be national events in Auckland and Wellington in April.

"That's the main focus getting the speed up for that," she said.

Conditions varied on the river during the racing after showers were replaced with muggy temperatures.

In the 1km short course, there were eight male and 13 female entrants.

The ladies were the fastest, taking out the first seven overall placings.

Next on the calender for the multisport club is helping run the AFFCO Triathlon this coming Saturday, 2.30pm at Lake Wiritoa.