INDEPENDENT NEWS

Community Sport Swims Make A Splash

Published: Tue 18 Jan 2005 01:27 PM
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 17, 2005
Community Sport Swims Make a Splash
Three generations of the Del la Varis family participated the annual Murray Dingle Memorial Bodyline Bridge to Bridge Swim at The Strand on Saturday, January 15.
Grandmother Joan Bidwell (70) joined son Todd Del la Varis (46) and his ten-year-old daughter Reina in the 600m event.
The family's connections with Tauranga run deep. Although the Spanish family name comes from his grandfather, Todd's great-great-grandmother Annie Binns was the first pakeha baby born in Tauranga, her parents arriving in New Zealand aboard "Aurora" in the 1840s.
On the racing side, Olympian Moss Burmester, now based in Auckland, scorched through a strong male field, to head off last year's winner Jeremy O'Shannessy.
Despite O'Shannessy doing the swim faster than his last year's winning time, a blistering time of 13.28 minutes from Burmester saw him take out the Peter Cramond commissioned trophy for the third time.
Five former winners of the trophy lined up in a record field of 180 swimmers, who competed in near perfect conditions with very little tidal assistance.
Tanya Lee-Parker, last year's women's winner returned, but was pipped by 14-year-old Karleen Gane, and had to be content with 2nd place.
The placings were all repeated the next day at the 23rd annual four kilometre Mount Lifeguard Service 'Harbour 2 Surf' swim, with Moss, Jeremy and Craig all repeating their finishing order, and Karleen Gane take out line honours again.
Records feel as Moss creamed over a minute off last year's record time for a wetsuit swim by Jeremy O'Shannessy, which stood at 45.56.
RESULTS:
Murray Dingle Memorial Bodyline Bridge to Bridge Swim.
1500m event.
Male: Moss Burmester (Auckland) 13.28 1, Jeremy 'O'Shannessy (Tga) 14.10
2, Craig Stewart (Tga) 14.22 3, Drew Williamson (Tga) 15.01 4, Justin
Hamilton (Tga) 15.41 5, James O'Connor (Tga) 15.43 6
Female: Karleen Gane (Tga) 16.29 1,Tanya Lee-Parker (Rotorua) 16.52 2,
Breony McGavin (Tga) 17.04 3, Jenny Wilson (Papamoa) 17.44 4, Helen
Cassidy (Tga) 18.01 5, Sue Binney (Tga) 18.03 6
600m event.
Male: Duncan Crawford (Hamilton) 10.25 1, Tony Hull (Hamilton) 10.37 2,
Dave Dunbar 10.42 3
Female: Lianne Dunbar (Tga) 10.15 1, Kate Hull (Hamilton) 11.33 2, Megan
Harrigan (Tga) 12.07
Harour 2 Surf' 4km swim.
Male: Moss Burmester (Auckland) 44.28 1, Jeremy O'Shannessy (Tga) 46.18
(1st Junior male) 2, Craig Stewart (Tga) 47.08 3, Daniel Janes (Tga) 48.19
(2nd Junior male) 4, Drew Williamson (Tga) 50.09 5 (3rd JM) , James
O'Connor (Tga) 53.17 6
Female: Karleen Gane (Tga) 53.10 1 (1st junior female/6th overall), Nicola
McKay (Tga) 55.06 2 (2nd JF), Cara Sibtsen (New Plymouth) 55.35 3 (3rd
JF), Tania Hockings (New Plymouth) 55.45 4, Breony McGavin (Mt) 56.31 5,
Kelly Davidson (Wellington) 56.32 6
Vet male: Dennis Toy (Mt) 53.40 1 (10th overall) Graeme Leitch (Papamoa)
56.28 2, greg Allen (Mt) 57.07 3
Vet Female: Susan Pilkington (Auckland) 62.46 1, Hana Wolzak (Hamilton)
66.08 2, Marie Higgison (Tga) 68.10 3
ENDS
CARLIN VALENTI ARE A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE COMMUNITY SPORT TRUST

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