Tuesday 18 February 2014

A record 900 people have entered the third annual State La Grande Swim being held on 22 February in Akaroa.

The city’s largest open sea swimming event, which has outstripped last year’s 800 entries, aims to promote safe swimming at beaches and waterways. It features four races with a morning of fun family activities. All entrants get free swim caps, beach towels and goodie bags.

“The response this season was fantastic,” says Scott Rice, Event Director of State NZ Ocean Swim Series. “Christchurch people have really got behind it this year and we were inundated with swimmers wanting to raise the bar on their personal distances.”

Rice says there is still time to enter the event even though Track My Swim is now closed. Entry, location and time details are on: www.oceanswim.co.nz

The Christchurch City Council helped entrants train at its Jellie Park, Pioneer and Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centres in its ‘Track My Swim’ programme. Pool staff tracked the laps swimmers completed and totalled the distances. Winners of the draws were:

Jellie Park Recreation and Sport Centre

Swim to Akaroa Prize Pack - Steve Robinson, Swim to Little River Prize Pack - Michael Carter, Swim to Tai Tapu Prize Pack - Bill Morrison. Winner of the Blueseventy Wetsuit - Gemma Franklin.

Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre

Swim to Akaroa Prize Pack - Ross Verry, Swim to Little River Prize Pack - Bevan Tillard, Swim to Tai Tapu Prize Pack - Natalie Elms. Winner of the Blueseventy Wetsuit - Ross Pearson.

Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre

Swim to Akaroa - Pete Maynard, Swim to Little River - Charlotte Verity, Swim to Tai Tapu - Amanda Cairns. Winner of the Blueseventy Wetsuit - Nigel Shatford.

This is the third year Akaroa has hosted the State La Grande Swim, which is the fourth event in the State NZ Ocean Swim series of six swims nationwide.

ENDS

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