Charlotte Webby, Kane Radford Double Up at New Zealand Open Water Championships

Charlotte Webby during the 5km Open Water Race of the New Zealand Open Water Championships, Lake Taupo, New Zealand, Sunday 10 January 2016. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz

Photo Courtesy: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz/Swimming New Zealand

Kane Radford and Charlotte Webby made it a double this weekend claiming honours in the 5km New Zealand Open Water Championship at Lake Taupo today.

The pair backed up strong performances from yesterday where they both won the 10km event which also forms part of the Olympic qualifying stages.

It is the fifth consecutive year that Radford (Rotorua) has held both New Zealand Open Water Championship titles.

“To be able to win it that many times in a row is something special,” Radford said. “Now we will just see where it goes and maybe we can build on from there as well.”

“I just really wanted to go out from the start and just see how I felt. I didn’t feel the greatest so I just thought I’ll sit here and bide my time until the last little bit.”

Radford finished in 58 minutes followed by Phillip Ryan (Waterhole) in 58:03.00 and Jackson Dawson (Waterhole) in 1:00.23.

Kane Radford during the 5km Open Water Race of the New Zealand Open Water Championships, Lake Taupo, New Zealand, Sunday 10 January 2016. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz

Photo Courtesy: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz/Swimming New Zealand

In the women’s 5km Webby (Aquabladz New Plymouth) put together a solid race to win in 1:03.32 ahead of Sammy Winward (Aquagym) in 1:04.50 and Stefannie Gillsepie (Zenith) in 1:04.52.

“It was a bit hard to come back from the 10km yesterday but I felt pretty strong so I’m happy with it,” Webby said.

“I just try take each race as it comes and keep building on it so I’m hoping that this year will be a good year.”

The New Zealand Championships formed part of the successful annual Epic Swim which attracted approximately 650 swimmers including a significant number of internationals, competing in a range of open water swims from 100m for children to the Epic Epic 17.5km events.

Results

Men: Kane Radford (Rotorua) 58:00.00, 1; Phillip Ryan (Waterhole) 58:03.00, 2; Jackson Dawson (Waterhole) 1:00.23, 3; Sebastian Priscott (Waterhole) 1:00.25, 4; Matthew Scott (Waterhole) 1:00.27, 5.

Women: Charlotte Webby (Aquabladz New Plymouth) 1:03.32, 1; Sammy Winward (Aquagym) 1:04.50, 2; Stefannie Gillespie (Zenith) 1:04.52, 3; Aimee Daniels (Aquabladz New Plymouth) 1:05.04, 4; Tayla Harwood (Tasman) 1:05.41, 5.

Swimming New Zealand contributed this report.

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