Big Ride, Big Wind

Big wind is a bit of an understatement. 6 Of our intrepid swimmers, maybe more if I missed spotting some, ventured to Taupo for the around the Lake Taupo Bicycle ride. I say bicycle but some loony's ride unicycles and some ride tandem's which, yes, are still bicycles even though they have 4 legs and a very few (Jeannie) try sliding their way around - more on that later. Our swimmer/riders who were nutty enough to ride all 160km were Mike Wansink, Barry Cribbens and Jeannie Smith.  Their times were Mike in 6.36.27, Barry in 6.52.58 and Jeannie in 6.30.57.

Peter Lane was in a team called 'I don't know what coz Peter didn't tell me what his team was called'. Peter did the 2nd half which is still a whopping 80km and he did this in a speedy 3hrs 4min. Angela Tomlinson and Deryn McGregor teamed up with Lew Turnbull from Christchurch to make up team 'Does this bike make my bum look big?'. Deryn did leg 3 (40km) in 1 hour 32 and Angela did leg 4, also 40km in 1 hour 32. Now as I'm writing this it is dawning on me that this adds up to 3hrs 4min, the same as Peter's time for the same 2 legs. A coincidence? Where was Tony Shacklock? He is usually to be seen when such going's on are occurring.

Riders were hammered by weather. The wind was doing dastardly deeds, especially on the first half of the course, making it particularly nasty for anyone doing the solo ride or the first legs of the relay event. The mountain bike event even had to be called off due to flying trees. The result was some disappointing times but, hey, all the more reason to return next year. The wind was also responsible for Jeannie's successful attempt at playing dominoes with several other cyclists. Thankfully Jeannie was largely ok and got up and rode on. You can check out her road rash and other war wounds when she returns to the swimming pool. But here is a tip for anyone who comes across injured cyclists on the road. Correct thing to say to them: "Can I help you?" Wrong thing to yell at them "Get off the road!". So to that person who shouted to them to get off the road - YOU will not be nominated for a good Samaritan award.

On to other things now. We did of course recently have our Xmas dinner at Giggles. Big ups to Anne for organising this. You have to be quick to get on these dinner things don't you, it sure filled up fast. I've posted some photo's on the gallery page. I had left my memory card in my computer so used the camera on my phone, hence why they are a bit funny. Also I was kind of hemmed in where I was so didn't get much of the table diagonal to the one I was on for which I apologise. I shall try and do better next time.

Ocean Swims 2011/2012 Are Underway

I couldn't convince Tony to wear his video camera on his head or attach 'cam on a stick' to his feet but he has kindly sent in this report from the first of the season's harbour swims, the State sponsored 2.9km Harbour Crossing:

A good contingent of SC Masters swam from Bayswater to Wynyard Quarter in the viaduct, along with about 1300 others, and all thought it was a good swim. Early morning conditions were calm and it looked promising for some good times. However, the wind was 15 knots SW by the time we started so we swam against wind-whipped choppy waves. Some found it easier than last year, others not. We can be proud of our first-time Harbour Crosser's Liz H, Angela O & Angela T – they all swam good times. As usual, navigation proved to be the biggest issue, with several of us swimming too far west, probably compensating for swimming too far east last time!

Wynyard Quarter was a much better place to finish. It was great to swim the extra 100 m inside the viaduct basin with the crowds watching on, and getting out of the water was easier on the gentle steps up to the finish gantry. There was plenty of space for greeting arriving swimmers and exchanging war stories. We walked the short distance to the fish market for the prize giving and it proved to be a great venue. Unfortunately neither Dave nor Liz won a wetsuit.

The official times are:

Gustav E – 49:53 (7th out of 105 in 35-39 age group)
Dave D – 50:15 (3rd out of 86 in 50-54 men’s age group)
Liz H – 55:15 (6th out of 43 in 40-44 age group)
Pat C – 57:53 (5th out of 22 in 60-64 age group)
Tony S – 1:00:57 (31st out of 86 in 50-54 age group)
Angela O – 1:03:39 (13th out of 43 in 45-49 age group)
Angela T – 1:05:34 (25th out of 53 in 25-29 age group, but she was wetsuit-less, almost naked, au naturelle) ((Tony, can you please explain? - Ed))
Dave W – 1:05:46 (26th out of 53 in 55-59 age group)
Audrey D (Manukau Masters) – 53:03 (7th out of 53 in 25-29 age group, also without wetsuit)

The non-wetsuit results will be published on Monday. ((Ed - and they were. Angela T was officially placed 3rd in her non-wetsuit division. Well done)).

Thanks Tony, good work. 

Race Night Results 2/11/11, Swimmer of the Month

Another successful race night was held on Wednesday with 20 enthusiastic swimmers taking part. Thank you to our timekeepers, it's great they keep coming along and manning the stopwatches for us. For the women 3 records were set or broken and for the men an impressive 13 records were set or broken. Relays are proving very popular and everyone was involved in the relays.

Following the swimming we had supper and presentation of the Swimmer of the Month trophy which was given in absentia to very worthy recipient, Fiona Grigg. Fiona not only attended her first swim meet but she chose an out of town meet as her first one - the Taupo Spring Fling. More than that, she went on her own since no one else from the club was going. Neither was her family so what does Fiona do? She takes a bus to Taupo. To top it off she swims PB's in all her events. What a gutsy performance, we are very proud of you Fiona.