Race #198

The third event in the Stroke & Stride Series is the last chance for competitors to strut their stuff before the traditional Christmas break.  With a big 1000 metre swim and a wee 3 kilometre run on the menu this event provides an ideal opportunity for the recognised swimmers in the field to shine.  After a hesitant start this year, summer was finally making its presence felt in Auckland laying on idyllic conditions for the evening’s competition.

On the beach awaiting the start, competitors were anxious to get underway, if only to enjoy a refreshing dip in the Waitemata Harbour at its sparkling best.  Going off the front of the women’s field those peerless swimmers: Rebecca Clarke, Jacey Cropp and Hannah Williams were soon doing what they do best, namely swimming away from their competition.  It was Rebecca Clarke who really poured on the pace in the latter stages opening up a 12 second lead on Stacey Cropp and Hannah Williams, hitting the shore in 12 minutes 45 seconds.  Strung out behind this flying trio was a small cluster of contenders including Rebecca Spence and Rebekah Bradley 20 seconds back.  Then it was a full minute until more swimmers reached the beach.

While the women’s field were approaching the end of their swim, the start for the men’s field sounded their action-packed departure with the brief charge down the sand, plunging headfirst into the tide and a myriad of flailing limbs splashing out towards the can in front of Rangitoto Island.  These guys weren’t hanging about either; with the first buoy 450 metres off the beach and the first swimmer rounding it in under 5 minutes.  As the head of the men’s field approached the shore there didn’t appear to be the big gaps we witnessed with the women earlier although by the time Jay Wallwork clocked 11 minutes 34 seconds running up the beach he did have a commanding 10 second lead over Brent Foster and Liam Hayes and a 23 second cushion on Cooper Rand.

The 3 kilometre run is as always, short, fast and furious but would it be long enough to shuffle the top place getters?  Not so for the women’s field when reigning Stroke & Stride Champion Rebecca Clarke clocks an impressive run split which added to her all conquering swim gave her victory on the day.  Also impressive and just a half minute behind at the finish was Ashley Williams who had overtaken all the others who started the run ahead of her.  Danielle Parkinson records another podium finish for the season when she grabbed third place 10 seconds ahead of Rebecca Spence.  Hannah Williams matched  her superb swim with a fleet-footed run and scored her best ever Stroke & Stride result and rounded out the top five.

Back out under the pohutukawa blossoms on the footpath to Kohimarama, the men’s field was still being lead by Jay Wallwork now running towards his 4th Stroke & Stride victory in a row.  His closest challenger was Cooper Rand however he would have needed more than the 3000 metres on offer to catch our flying leader.  So Jay Wallwork strides down the golden sands of Mission Bay beach and takes another win, he has now won the last four Stroke & Stride events.  The record number of wins-in-a-row for a male athlete is five and that record is jointly held by a couple of legends – Brent Foster and Shane Reed.  Cooper Rand improves on last fortnight’s third placing to take second today so will his progression continue in the new year?  Or will it be the fast improving third placed Trent Thorpe scoring his best ever result at the Stroke & Stride and just seconds in front of Mark Bowstead.  Is there an advantage of having a brother to race and train with because next to finish was Quinn Wallwork and James Bowstead?

The next Stroke & Stride is not scheduled until the middle of January so the current Grand Prix standings get to gather some dust as they can’t be disturbed for our long break.  Ashley Williams (1st, 3rd & 2nd) has held the lead in the Grand Prix since the opening round with three terrific races and will be defending her 11 point lead in the New Year.  Also taking a step up this season rewards Danielle Parkinson (7th, 2nd & 3rd) with a solitary point lead over defending champion Rebecca Clarke (1st & 1st) who is another one whole point ahead of Rebecca Spence (3rd, 5th & 4th) who is in turn a single point in front of Katherine Badham (2nd, 4th & 8th).

Can’t get much closer than that however the men are trying their best apart from Jay Wallwork (1st, 1st & 1st) all alone in a class of his own this summer.  Chasing him we have Trent Thorpe (6th,7th & 3rd) just two points in front of Cooper Rand (3rd & 2nd) who is one whole point up on James Bowstead (5th, 6th & 6th).  Then it gets ridiculous with four athletes all tied on 26 points; we look forward to seeing Tom Moyes, Fynn Thompson, Quinn Wallwork and Mark Bowstead sorting out those positions with the resumption of play.