Swimmers make waves at Longmere

Stapley completed the first leg that took place in October in an impressive time of 42:54 and the second in 48:23.

The neighbouring country’s Youth Olympic Swimmer, GJ Richter, is a product of Stapely’s coaching. The 49-year-old has already made his mark as an open-water swimmer in 2014.

Also read: Swimmers brave the cold for open water series 

The 15-year-old Seth Sproule was named overall winner in the 1,5 kilometres. His best time of 21:05 was during the first leg. On Saturday November 19, he crossed the finish line in second place in 22:29. Asher Biggs won gold in a time of 22:28.

On Saturday Rico van Greunen left the waters of Longmere Dam in a time of 20:44 (best overall time of the series over 1,5-kilometres), followed by Liam Briggs (21:06) and Seth in third (22:15).

Also read: No time to relax for world-class triathlete

Hoërskool Bergvlam’s swimmer of the year, Thelise Saunders, who pulled off victories in all three legs, was named overall winner.

Local athlete, Dylan Nortjé, who participated in the ITU World Triathlon Champs, clocked the best time over 1,5 kilometres in the first leg with a time of 17:42. Thelise completed the first leg in 17:48, the second in 20:40 and the last leg in 20:00.

Results for podium finishes
Series winners
• 400m
Female – Ann Andrews
Male – Tristan Davids

• 1,5km
Female – Thelise Saunders
Male – Seth Sproule

• 3km
Chris Stapley.

Final-leg podium finishers
• 400m male open
First – Tristan David – 07:34
Second – Jen-Arno Cilliers – 07:38
Third – Wallace Bothma – 08:41

• 400m female
First – Cheline Stander 11:34

• 1,5km junior male
First – Rico van Greunen 20:44
Second – Liam Briggs 21:06
Third – Seth Sproule 22:15

• 1,5km open male
First – Stolla Stoltz 22:27
Second – Brendan O’Hagan 32:14
Third – Cubus Venter 32:20

• 1,5km veteran male
First – David Arbuthnot 27:49
Second – David Rogers 29:17
Third – Frans Mentz 33:40

• 1,5km junior female
First – Thelise Saunders 20:00
Second – Mikaela Goelst 26:22
Third – Erin Goelst 27:18

• 1,5km open male
First – Carine Gagiano 24:17
Second – Jessica Salter 29:59
Third – Geneviere Venter 31:54

• 1,5km veteran female
First – Michele Esterhuizen 21:10
Second – Karin Cilliers 29:25
Third – Theresa Lewis 30:18.