Record Numbers at  Fiji Ocean Swim

A record number of swimmers, accompanying family and friends were at the Fiji Ocean Swim Festival, held from October 9^th - 11^th at Plantation Resort, Malolo Lailai Island, to see world 5km champion Melissa Gorman, win both the 3km and 10km events (part of the weekend's activities).

Melissa covered the 10km course in a time of 2:11:07, with Japanese 10km champion Ayano Yamaguchi coming in second with a time of 2:15:27. Australian world championship team member, Shelley Clark was third in 2:19:35.

First male home in the 10km was Donal Barry (Ireland) with a time of 2:25:00, second was 14 year old Jake Freeman from Queensland in 2:28:42, with Scott Miers third male in 2:29:29

Rough conditions forced a change in the usual 10km course around Malolo Lailai Island to a 2 x 5km lap course set in Malolo Lagoon. This was no easy swim, with wind and chop over the more exposed mid section of each lap making conditions tough. 

The 10km event also doubled as the Fiji National Open Water Championships with many of Fiji's young and emerging swimmers entering the event. First local swimmer home and National 10km women's champion for 2009 was Lucy Joyce (15) in 2:36:26 second was sister Elly Joyce (13) in 2:45:51 third in the women's Nationals was 11 year old Iris Pene in 3:35:46.

Matia Taito (14) headed the men's Nationals in 2:47:39 with another 11 year old, Gordon Thompson second in 2:51:20 and Brosnan Erbsleben (15) third in 3:09:41 rounding off a clean sweep for the Nadi Mako Swim Club.

The 3km, held the previous day saw Melissa Gorman win in 44:49, Shelley Clark second in 46:35, third overall and first male was Craig Magnusson in 46:44.

Donal Barry was second male in 48:47 and Sean Jacobs, currently on attachment as an administrator with Fiji Swimming, third male in 49:01. Local swimmer Lucy Joyce rounded off the top three women finishers in 51:22

Saturday evening we were treated to a private showing of the 'Big River Man', the movie of Martin Strel's amazing Amazon River swim, courtesy of Martin's son Borut.

Borut was the project manager for the Amazon expedition, was present at the event and gave us some great insights into the Amazon swim and Martin's other epic swims.

The Fiji Ocean Swim Festival is Fiji's premier Ocean Swim event and includes Swim Clinics with some of the worlds top swimmers and coaches, 1.5km and 3km events and a 10km event for individuals and teams of 5.