Funky fun in open-water swim
Scores of swimming fanatics and enthusiasts competed in the third series of the Funky Pants Open Water Swim series on Saturday at Lake Longmere Dam.
The event once again proved to be a family affair with entries categorised under three distances – 3 000 metres for more experienced swimmers, while the rest partook in the 1 500 metres and 400-metre fun swim for the entire family. The event attracted about 54 pre-entries.
Fourteen-year-old Seth Sproule did his first three kilometres in a time of 54:02. Only five swimmers undertook this category with the first male, Jacey Bekker in 39:46 and Nicole Lewis the first female out of the waters in 47:46. Bekker and Lewis were also crowned winners in the first series with 37:05 and 39:05 respectively. Eric Nilsson (29) boasts the second-fastest time with 42:06.
Thelise Saunders (15) was the fastest female swimmer in the 1,5 kilometres with a record time of 18:12.
Liam Briggs had the fastest time in the male category with 20:31. Second swimmer out of the water was Michele Esterhuizen in 19:49, followed by Briggs and 13-year-old Kayla Schefermann in 20:36.
Thomas Williams – only 10 years old – completed his second 1 500 metres in a time of 41:28. The oldest swimmer in the water was Ann Andrews (60) who finished in a time of 40:05.
Shane Lourens (15) made waves when he won the 400 metres in 04,54, 1,57 minutes ahead of the first female, Mikaela Goelst (9). Her older sister Erin was third in 06:21 and their mother fourth in 07:15.
This weekend the second off-road triathlon will take place at Longmere. “Longmere Recreation Club held the first off-road triathlon event in March. It was a huge success.
“We had people begging us to do more,” said Allison Williams of Funky Pants.
