Report by Caroline Makin
The annual Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims offer three options: 500m, 2.5km and 5km and are intended as true tests of swimming ability and skill, for swimmers not wearing wetsuits. This year’s event was staged on Sunday 26 February 2012 at Yarralumla Bay.
Congratulations to the five Vikings who participated in the 2012 event in near-perfect conditions. Individual results were as follows:
Greg ‘Iron Man’ Gourley set off with the first pack of swimmers in the 5km swim, taking on the two loops of the 2.5k circuit, finishing in a time of 1:28:33 – an amazing 7 minutes quicker than in 2011! – and in 2nd place in the Male 50-59 category and 3rd Male overall out of 14 competitors.
Next, the remaining four Vikings set off on the 2.5km swim.
Anne Smyth put in a strong swim, as ever, in the 2.5km swim, returning home in a time of 40:52, finishing in 1st place in the Female 50-59 category and 2nd Female overall out of 15 competitors.
Next over the finish line, closely behind Anne in the 2.5km swim was Nick Dando in a time of 41:02, finishing in 2nd place in the Male 50-59 category and 2nd Male overall out of 9 competitors. This was Nick’s first time competing in the Lake – great work Nick!
Caroline Makin completed the 2.5km swim in a time of 42:35, which was almost 2 minutes quicker than in 2011, finishing in 2nd place in the Female Under 50 category and 3rd Female overall out of 15 competitors.
Bringing the Vikings home, newcomer Nina Macguire crossed the finish line for the 2.5km swim in a time of 50:24, finishing in 6th place in the Female Under 50 category and 6th Female overall out of 15 competitors. Well done Nina and congratulations on your initiation swim with the club!
Mighty Vikings reign supreme in 2012 Lake Swims
The weather deteriorated a little towards the end of the swims with a rain mist setting in, but all was well when the competitors tucked into freshly good pancakes and fruit provided by the organisers. This is a small but terrific event to take part in locally in Canberra.
An official Sri Chinmoy race report is available, along with full results by age category for all three distances and a photo album from the finish line.
