Sovereign Harbour Crossing To Stop Marine Traffic

For Immediate Release

Sovereign Harbour Crossing To Stop Marine Traffic

Marine traffic on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour will this Saturday come to a complete halt to make way for close to 1400 swimmers who will take to the sea at Bayswater on the North Shore and head 2.8km across the harbour to Viaduct Harbour in Auckland City.

The sixth swimming of the Sovereign Harbour Crossing marks the beginning of the Sovereign NZ Ocean Swim Series once again attracting some of the world’s best open water swimmers to New Zealand over six races this summer, all chasing their share of a $75,000 cash and prize pool.

Event Director Scott Rice says the quality of the field is as good as he has seen in the event’s six year history with a strong mix of elite pool swimmers, ocean swim experts and high profile triathletes, including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Moss Burmester along with world number three triathlete Kris Gemmell.

The women’s race will feature North Shore teenager Alannah Jury who has this year focused on open water swimming and finished 13th on debut at the FINA Open Water World Championships in Rome earlier this year.

But the event is not just about the elite athletes. The main field of swimmers are made up of those doing it for the challenge and for fun. Among the entries are those who have undergone cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery and family combinations.

Also swimming to encourage participation in this event and the five other Sovereign Ocean Swim events is 1996 double Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader. Now 34, the former freestyle champion is swimming for reasons other than chasing medals and records.

“It’s not about the challenge of Moss and the other elite guys; Moss is serious and still competitive. To get back in the water and in the ocean is a lot more fun than plodding up and down in the pool.

“We are no more than 3 hours away from water anywhere here in New Zealand. And yet I hear all the time about the high rate of drowning here in New Zealand and I am thinking this shouldn’t be happening as often as it does. If my participation can motivate and excite anyone to take part, learn to swim and become a little safer in the water, then this can only be a great thing.”

As well as swimming the 2.8km event on Saturday, Loader will help throughout the summer at the other events, working with children in the Sovereign OceanKids.

Other notable names taking part on Saturday include ACT leader Rodney Hide, former Silver Fern and TV presenter Jenny-May Coffin and Shortland Street’s Bonnie Soper, Harry McNaughton and Ido Drent.

Sovereign Harbour Crossing

Saturday 21st November 11am Start

Quinton Park, Bayswater to Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Sovereign NZ Ocean Swim Series, 2009/10

Sovereign Harbour Crossing, Auckland: Saturday 21 November 2009

Sovereign Russell to Paihia, Bay of Islands: Saturday 12 December 2009

Sovereign Capital Classic, Wellington: Saturday 30 January 2010

Sovereign Corsair Classic, Christchurch: Saturday 27 February 2010

Sovereign Sand to Surf, Mt Maunganui: Saturday 27 March 2010

Sovereign King of the Bays, North Shore City, Auckland: Saturday 17 April 2010

Take the plunge this summer. Find out more at www.oceanswim.co.nz

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