 Twins Lena and Larn Hamblyn-Ough start the new year by winning the New Years Day Swim on the North Shore, Auckland. Photo by Ray Pichon. After four straight years of winning the New Years Day swim, it was time for Alex Dunkley to hand over the reigns to new champion Larn Hamblyn-Ough in the men's race. In the women's line-up, defending champion Olivia Bates handed over the women's shield to Lena Hamblyn-Ough. The race up front was tight and friendly between Team Auckland swimmers Alex, Olivia, Lena, Larn and Jack Potier. The team was race-sharp from competing in competitions in New South Wales and Queensland in December. Alex, without a wetsuit finished 20s behind overall champion Larn. Twin Lena finished fourth overall ahead of Samoa representative Palepua Afoa. The Hamblyn-Ough twins are dominating ocean swimming in New Zealand at present. Larn is also a national representative. He was part of the New Zealand team to the Pan Pac Games in Hawai’i in August. After two years of swimming around the reef at Browns Bay, the event this year returned to the traditional course between Long Bay and Browns Bay. The rough conditions had one advantage, the water was empty of jetskis and boats on New Years day. We did not encounter one craft on the course. Conditions were heave-ho in the 30 km breeze in the first half from Long Bay to Winstone Point and claimed one marker that swept onto rocks. Conditions settled a little in the second half of the swim between Winstone Cove and the finish at Browns Bay. There are nine swims in the Holiday series. The last swim is the Waitangi Swim on February 6. New Years Day Swim in photos - 1- Alex Dunkley hands over the shield to new champion Larn Hambly-Ough. 2 - First wave at Long Bay. 3 - Getting read for the swim. 4 - Team Seal - Troy Rangi, Tate Pichon and Joshua Vegar. Photos by Ray Pichon. Champions
Women 2018, Jen McDermott 2019, Terri Bidwell 2020, Ella Crowe 2021, Ella Crowe 2022, Olivia Bates 2023, Lena Hamblyn-Ough Men 2018, Alex Dunkley / Mike Cochrane 2019, Nick Shanks 2020. Alex Dunkley 2021, Alex Dunkley 2022, Alex Dunkley 2023, Larn Hamblyn-Ough For the full results, click here.
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