For the third year in a row the weather was ideal for the Smoke on the Water open water swim at Chimney Lake Sunday morning.
Nineteen swimmers took part in the event, posting exceptional results.
Swimmers took part in 750-metre, 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre swims across the lake. Some swimmers even participated from Quesnel and Duncan.
In the 750-metre category, for 12 and under girls, Quesnel’s Lindsay Sanford took the top spot in 18 minutes and 40 seconds, followed closely by Williams Lake Blue Fin Kasha Vitoratos in second.
First place in the 51-plus male category was Wayne Rich.
First overall in the 1,500-metre 12 and under male division was Quesnel’s Garnett Currie, while the top 12 and under female was fellow Quesnel teammate Natasha Hanson. Currie’s time of 25 minutes and eight seconds set a new record, lowering the previous best by five minutes. Second place in the division went to Williams Lake Blue Fin Maia Vitoratos.
In the 13-15 female category Williams Lake’s Geneva Gordon nabbed top spot, followed by teammate Kyleigh Williamson in second.
In the long-distance 3,000-metre swim it was Williams Lake’s Danica Robson taking first overall in the 13-15 female category, while Duncan’s Veronica Reid finished atop the 16-20 female division posting a record time of 46 minutes and 14 seconds. Second for 16-20 women was Williams Lake’s Kiah Wallace Webb.
In the 21-30 female category Jodie Capling finished first; 41-50 female went to Martine Cyr; 41-50 male was Mike Oswald; 51-plus female was Lynn Capling; 51-plus male was Rudy Wasenaar; 41-50 female was Jennifer Anderson, while Deena Williamson finished second.
There were two swimmers this year who swam in the previous two events — Cyr and Gordon — while three mothers had their daughters swimming with them, also. Lynn Capling and her daughter Jodie swam, as did Deena and her daughter Kyleigh.
The Blue Fins swim club said it would like to thank the volunteers who were on the water with the swimmers assuring their safety, and on land helping organize and time.
Next up for the Blue Fins will be registration and the start of the 2012/13 season in September.
For more information on the Williams Lake Blue Fins Swim Club call Marilyn Haines at 250-392-2987, visit the Blue Fin’s website at www.wlbluefins.com or e-mail bluefins@live.com.