Courageous Ned Wieland swims first 10km race from Bondi to Watsons Bay to raise money for leukaemia

NED WIELAND finished in the top 10 of the South Head Roughwater swim from Bondi to Watsons Bay thinking of his sick best mate Xavier Slezak when the going got tough.

A COURAGEOUS effort has seen 13-year-old Ned Wieland finish in the top 10 of the South Head Roughwater swim from Bondi to Watsons Bay in the name of his sick best mate Xavier Slezak.

The North Bondi Surf Life Saver finished the 10km race in 3hrs and 20 miss.

He was 50 minutes behind the winner, Cormac Guthrie who crossed the line in 2 hrs and 32 minutes, ahead of more than 180 others.

Ned swims for mate. Ned and Xavier after the race (inset).

Ned Wieland approaching the finish line in the South Head Roughwater. Picture: Supplied.

His father, Mark Wieland was on the support boat that followed him the whole way.

“He had a brilliant swim, he did very well,” Mr Wieland said.

So far he has raised $6000 for the Leukaemia Foundation in the name of his best friend, Xavier Slezak, who is currently receiving treatment for the disease.

“It was a tough old swim because of the huge swell, but he got through to the end,” Mr Wieland said.

13-year-old Ned Wieland (right), swam solo in the South Head Roughwater on Sunday for Xavier Slezak. Picture: Supplied,

This was the largest swim Ned had attempted.

“He did a 9km swim in Canberra last year but this was much more trying because of the swell, even coming through the heads with the westerly blowing.

“He said, oh my shoulders are a bit sore, about half way through, I was a bit worried,” Mr Wieland said.

“I quoted one of the girls, I said to him, ‘remember what she went through when she did the crossing’ and he said ‘I remember what Xavier is going through’.”

Solo womens winner, Zoe Whitfield. Picture: Craig Wilson.

Solo winner Cormac Guthrie. Picture: Craig Wilson

Zoe Whitfield was the fastest woman in the swim.

She finished the race in 2hrs 39 miss.

A team consisting of Peter Thiel, Ollie Signorini, Wally Eggleton and Tom Montgomery was the fastest on the day, finishing in 2 hours 20 minutes.

Team winners Tattersals consisting of Peter Thiel, Ollie Signorini, Wally Eggleton and Tom Montgomery, in 2hrs 20mins in the South Head Roughwater Swim at Watsons Bay. Picture: Craig Wilson.