Massive fields take to the water for Around The Sound swim
More than 300 swimmers took to the water yesterday morning for the Around The Sound swim.
With five events between 800m and 10,000m, there was plenty of choice for committed athletes and dedicated amateurs to take part with swimmers ranging in age from eight years old all the way up to 76-year-old Richard Aikman giving up their day of rest to plunge into the water.
The long-distance event, the 10k swim from Villa Monticello to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, was won by 34-year-old Alex Meyer, who won in a time of 2hr 10min and 47secs, more than 14 minutes ahead of his nearest rival Craig Munden.
Nina Coetzer, aged 29, finished fourth but was the first woman home in a time of 2:24:39.
The 6k Swim from Shark Hole Dock to the Aquarium produced a remarkable win for the youngest swimmer in the field, 13-year-old Jonathon Packard, who finished more than two minutes clear of his nearest rival in 1:23:21.
In the 4k swim, which started at Bayside Dock near Trinity Road Church, it was experience that just edged out youth with 37-year-old Samuel Wollner beating two 15-year-olds in Annie Engstrom and Callum MacFarlane.
A huge field of 124 swimmers took part in the 2k swim, which again finished at the Aquarium after starting at Radnor Estate Road dock, and in the tightest finish of the day, Mark Knepley beat teenager Daria Desmond by just three seconds.
The 800m sprint swim began was centred around the aquarium and produced the only female winner with 14-year-old Elanna Fulton coming out on top.