Teenagers dominate tough 5km Open Water titles

Teenagers Phillip Ryan (Auckland) and Georgia Hind (Wellington) dominated proceedings to win the 5km New Zealand Open Water Championships in tough conditions in Wellington today.

Strong northerlies forced organisers to move the course from Oriental Parade to a more sheltered 1km loop course off Hataitai Beach.

It did not make any difference to eighteen-year-old Ryan (Waterhole, Auckland) who followed his victory in yesterday’s demanding 10km race with an emphatic effort today to claim the double.

He was in a class of his own to clear out from the field to win in 1:01.16, more than two minutes clear of his older brother Daniel with Hamilton’s Andrew Pullon third.

Pullon won the 16-17 years honours from his twin brother Jonathan while Mitchell Nairn (Taupo) won the 13-15 years division.

Hind, 16, the young sister of Beijing Olympian Tash Hind, produced an impressive display to dominate the women’s open event.

After bypassing yesterday’s 10km event, Hind produced a strong solo display to win in 1:04.59, nearly three minutes ahead of North Shore’s Alannah Jury and fellow Capital swimmer, Stephanie Bennington.

Jury, 17, was runner-up in Saturday’s 10km race, while 15-year-old Bennington was third in both races.

Hind also took out the 16-17 years division and Bennington the 13-15 years class.

Results:
Male, Open: Phillip Ryan (Waterhole, Auckland) 1:01.16, 1; Daniel Ryan (Waterhole) 1:03.29, 2; Andrew Pullon (Fairfield, Waikato) 1:03.56, 3.
16-17 years: Andrew Pullon 1; Jonathan Pullon (Fairfield) 1:04.07, 2; Nathan Capp (Greerton, BOP) 1:04.08, 3.
13-15 years: Mitchell Nairn (Taupo) 1:05.21, 1; Isaac Foote (Masterton) 1:07.45, 2; Evan Wilson (Hamilton) 1:07.45, 3.

Female, Open: Georgia Hind (Capital, Wgtn) 1:04.59, 1; Alannah Jury (North Shore) 1:07.44, 2; Stephanie Bennington (Capital) 1:11.36, 3.
16-17 years: Hind 1, Jury 2, Kate Dore (Wharenui) 1:12.55, 3.
13-15 years: Bennington 1, Rebecca Roling (Arawai, BOP) 1:12.37, 2; Helena Orr (North Shore) 1:12.53, 3.