Max Coten rode the breakers into shore to record 24 minutes and 17 seconds, the fastest time at Sunday’s Southern Ocean Classic Mile.

In testing conditions with a swell of more than 3m, Giacomo Luciano was pipped at the post for second place when he missed the finishing chute to log off his timer.

Rebekah Weller beat Giacomo by one 0.01 second with 25.40.

Experience showed when Nicole Hodgson finished in 30.55 and 14th, a scrap behind Charlie Thornton, 30.48, the first local over the line.

Charlie’s sister Phoebe recorded 33.22 while Adam Western swam a creditable 35.32.

Anthony McEwen made a do-or-die dash from the water to the shore in 36.08 and Bo Wong cruised in with 36.40.

Erin Shaylor, 38.18, beat Jill Sheed, 38.33, by a whisker though Jill was ahead of daughter, Hannah Thornton, 38.43.

David Rae hit the sand in 41.04 while Murray Thornton, 40.11, was a little ahead.

Kat Lamb is now hooked on ocean swimming making 41.39 in her first effort. Another first-timer was Susie Hawson, 44.11.

Youngster Olivia McEwan recorded 44.18, Tim Maisey, 44.53 and Doughal Macmaster 45.23.

Melanie Haymont and Colin Sainty were neck-to-neck, 49.36 and 49.37, respectively.

Deb Edmondson, 53.48 was a little behind Glenn Capelli, 53.14.

The Denmark Surf Life Saving Club-hosted event attracted a big field of 135 swimmers, 27 of whom were locals.

Club members did a fine job keeping the swimmers safe throughout the race which went without a hitch.

More pictures by Patricia Gill in the Denmark Bulletin.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 21 April 2022.