2 Nov 2006"Winners: Carmel Hanly and Blair Jordan"

  • Mission Bay
  • |
  • Swim: 500 metre
  • |
  • Run: 5 kilometre

The Structured Finance Stroke & Stride series entered its 18th season on a sun-drenched afternoon at Mission Bay.  More than 350 swimrun athletes braved a bit of chop in the bay and a brisk headwind after the run turnaround to finish the 500 metre swim and 5km run that was the first of the eight race series.

First out of the water for the women, who started first, was Rebecca Clarke, to the surprise of few.  The strong swimmer was first out of transition as well, after a 6m 46s swim, and off on the 5km run.  Defending Series Champion Carmel Hanly was in hot pursuit, however, and quickly took over on the run, asserting her authority over the field.  Hanly made up the 23 second deficit in next to no time, widened her lead as the kilometers ticked off, and cruised down the 200 metre sand stretch to victory on the beach.  Elizabeth Orchard and Jenny Cooper were second and third, respectively.  Marisa Carter headed home Renee Holtom for fourth place while Clarke ended up ninth.

The men, who started 10 minutes later, had even more chop in the water than the women.  It made no difference to Stroke & Stride legend Brent Foster, who assumed his customary spot as first out of the water, after a swim of 5m 55s. His lead out on the run was not as large as he had hoped, however, and he was eventually passed by three fleet-footed guys: Blair Jordan, Liam Scopes, and James Elvery.  Jordan eventually pulled away for his first ever Stroke & Stride win but only just, with Scopes taking second by a few strides and Elvery finishing third.  Foster finished fourth, just 20 seconds out of first and just in front of Sam Walker.

Male

1

Blair Jordan

19m 47s

2

Liam Scopes

19m 53s

3

James Elvery

20m 03s

4

Brent Foster

20m 07s

5

Sam Walker

20m 53s

6

Ryan Sissons

21m 05s

7

Graham Wadsworth

22m 54s

8

Michael Poole

23m 04s

9

Daniel Smith

23m 05s

10

Matt Morreau

23m 07s

11

Alex Smith

23m 10s

12

Philip Morreau

23m 20s

13

Sam Franklin

23m 25s

14

Michael Tobeck

23m 28s

15

Martyn Reesby

23m 41s

Female

1

Carmel Hanly

22m 45s

2

Elizabeth Orchard

24m 01s

3

Jenny Cooper

24m 52s

4

Marisa Carter

25m 24s

5

Renee Holtom

25m 28s

6

Julia Cree

25m 40s

7

Vanessa Palmer

26m 07s

8

Jessica Roets

26m 13s

9

Rebecca Clarke

26m 23s

10

Claire Edmonds

26m 28s

11

Nicole Silver

26m 31s

12

Margie Peat

26m 35s

13

Lorraine Scapens

26m 37s

14

Terri Gavin

26m 54s

15

Theresa Knight

27m 10s

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