Matthew Andrew was in a class of his own in the Mpumalanga Swimming Open Water 5km and 3km races at Lake Longmere on Sunday.

The Midwit swimmer, who won both events last year, took the lead 30m from the start and never relinquished it.

The Highveld lad was pure class, clocking 00:39:44 for the 3km race and 01:06:42 for the 5km open water swim.

Leson Visagie, also of Midwit froze the stopwatch on 00:42:47 in the 3km race and 01:11:54 in the 5km race to claim second place.

Dylan Scholtz of Curro Swimming Academy pushed Leson all the way in the 3km event and took third place in 00:42:51, just four seconds slower than Leson. Dylan also took third place in the 5km event in 01:12:06.

The Lowveld’s Lucy Friedenthal took the honours in the women’s races.

She flew the Uniswim flag, winning the 3km event in 00:43:59. She continued on the course to win the 5km in 01:14:19.

Midwit’s Annebelle Davel finished second in the 3km event in 00:45:39 and also in the 5km race in 01:18:25.

Cathrijn Davel of Midwit claimed third place in the 3km in 00:45:54.

The third place swimmer in the 5km race was Esmari Weitsz of Uniswim in 01:27:10.

A remarkable performance on the day was that of 50-year-old Michele Esterhuizen. The Curro Swimming Academy member swam to fourth place in the women’s 3km race in a time of 00:48:23. She was 31 years older than the second oldest competitor.

3km (unofficial event)
Men
1. Dawid de Villiers (Uniswim) 00:26:43.
2. Matthew Josten (Uniswim) 00:28:12.
3. Rowena Myeza (Curro Swimming Academy) 00:28:58.
Women
1. Kye-Ann Fowler (Uplands College) 00:23:51.
2. Lara Janse van Rensburg (Nelspruit Swimming Academy Development) 00:25:26.
3. Nicci Viljoen (Independent) 00:26:51.

400m (unofficial event)
Men
1. Reuben Mattysen (Nelspruit Aqua Elite Swimming Academy) 00:05:59.
2. Brendan Fowler (Uniswim) 00:06:28.
3. Bryce Fowler (Independent) 00:06:59
Women
1. Zoë Morgado (Curro Swimming Academy) 00:05:26.
2. Zoë Janse van Vuuren (Curro Swimming Academy) 00:06:03.
3. Cayden Fowler (Uplands College) 00:06:40.