Ocean Swim Series Set For Stunning Finale At King Of Bays

The best open water swimmers from New Zealand and Australia will go head to head on Sunday April 19 at the King of the Bays, the fifth and final race in the Sovereign NZ Ocean Swim Series.

A stunning lineup will feature the very best from Australia and New Zealand as swimmers compete for overall supremacy and prize money in New Zealand's fastest growing and most popular summer swim series.

With the overall series up for grabs in both men's and women's categories, the race is shaping as one of the best ever in the six year history of the King of the Bays. Event Director Scott Rice has noticed an extra edge already.

"Kane Radford and Helen Norfolk have traditionally dominated this series but this year each of the men's and women's elite titles is up for grabs. In the men's it could go to anyone of 3 or 4 swimmers with Trent Grimsey (AUS), Bryn Murphy (Invercargill) and Radford (Rotorua) a chance if they win and other results go their way.

"In the women's the title race is perhaps down to two, with Charlotte Webby (New Plymouth) and Kate Brookes-Peterson (AUS) battling it out, but a surprise result and poor swim from either of them might open the door to the likes of Brenda Cockcroft (North Shore) who has shown incredible consistency throughout the series."

Swimmers count their best 3 race results towards the overall title but the margin for Grimsey and Brookes-Peterson is not large given they will only swim the 3 races (including King of the Bays), meaning each result must count towards their final tally.

Sovereign Marketing and Communications Manager Richard Allen is excited at the prospect of a close and world class finish to the series.

"The elite aspect of this series has grown with each year and at this year's King of the Bays we will be treated to some superb racing from world class swimmers. It is all the more appetizing given it has come down to a Trans-Tasman competition in both men's and women's categories.

"The likely record field that will follow home the elites will also have their goals and objectives on the day, we are thrilled also to see New Zealanders in record breaking numbers taking part throughout the summer, and Sovereign King of the Bays will be no exception on Sunday."

Indeed Richard Allen is right, entries a week out suggest yet another record breaking turnout on Sunday with over 1200 expected to be on the start line on Sunday in any one of the three events on offer, the Sovereign OceanKids, the 750m event and the King of the Bays from Milford Beach to Takapuna Beach.

Those on the start line will include hundreds of everyday Kiwis and a few celebrities too, each swimming for their own reasons and to achieve their own personal goals. Former All Black Ian Jones will be amongst them, as will leading fashion designer Denise l'Estrange Corbet (World), a number of Shortland Street stars and blind swimmer Rob Matthews MBE.

One who may not be there however is Melissa Ingram, New Zealand's leading pool swimmer in recent times. The star back stroker is suffering from an iron deficiency at the moment and is unsure whether she will recover in time to be on the start line. Either way the multiple World Cup short course medal winner will be there.

"I am still hopeful I might swim but at the moment my priority is to return to full health. But if I am not swimming, I will be there helping with the Sovereign OceanKids event. Some of these kids are the future of our sport and this is a way for me to play a part in helping them to have some fun while also getting a taste of elite competition."

The King of the Bays will also find the best swim club in the country for open water swimming. Going into the final event in the Sovereign Series, the five leading clubs are: North Shore, West Auckland Aquatics and Devonport (AKL), Howick Pakuranga (Counties Manukau) and Wharenui (Canterbury).

Swimming New Zealand's Open Water Swimming Programme Manager Philip Rush will present the inaugural SNZ Ocean Swim Top Club trophy to the winning club.