9 August 2009 – Southbourne, Bournemouth
The third race in the 2009 Aquasphere Powered Long Swim Series, which follows the format of a measured 3.8km Ironman triathlon distance swim, attracted over 140 triathletes and open water swimmers wishing to test their fitness and swimming skills.
Conditions were perfect for swimmers and specators alike with some cloud cover in the morning keeping the temperatures reasonable and a light off shore breeze.
As the athletes ran into the sea and headed out for the first of 3 laps the field quickly split with the faster athletes aiming for a sub 50 minute time and some hoping to get round in under 2.5 hours.
John Wood, who had purchased his Aquasphere Ironman wetsuit just 30 minutes before the race, emerged just in front of Ben Carter to take the win in 49:40.
In the ladies race Jessica Wooddisse beat another Aquasphere clad athlete, Joanne Swallow, who had won at Box End (the previous Long Swim venue) in 57:41 and 58:44 respectively.
Though the leaders times were largely unaffected many further down the pack found the rip currents difficult to contend with and generally the race times were a little slower than in the previous events in lakes which don’t present the same level of challenge as the sea and it’s currents and tidal movements!
One who was seemingly unaffected by the conditions though was East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club junior Claire Hayward who once again took the junior ladies and non-wetsuit races in a brilliant 1:02:03
Click to view series race results
The series finale is at Dorney Lake, Windsor on 6 September 2009. Details and online entries are available here.
Click to view photos from the event
Info credit www.votwo.co.uk