Bondi Bluewater ocean swim winners set sights on Rio Olympics

TOM Montgomery and Samantha Watts announced ambitious plans for much higher honours after winning the famous ocean swim on Sunday.

Racers get underway at the start of the 2km race. The Bondi Bluewater challenge Ocean swiming race. Picture: John Appleyard

THE winners of the Bondi Bluewater Challenge have their eyes on a bigger prize after the gruelling 2.1km ocean swim on Sunday.

Tom Montgomery and Samantha Watts are vying for selection in the Australian open water swim team to compete at the Rio Olympic Games next year.

Montgomery, 16, from Scarborough, north of Wollongong, continued his recent hot form winning both the 1km sprint and overall 2.1km race. Watts, 21, of Castle Hill, surprised the field to record the third fastest time of the day.

Swimmers come ashore in the 1km race at Bondi. Picture: John Appleyard

Tom Montgomery won his division in both the 1km and 2km races. Picture: John Appleyard

Samantha Watts was first woman ashore in the 2.1km race. Picture: John Appleyard

Swimmers representing the hosts, Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, capped of a dominating performance, winning eight of the age category races.

Simon Nothling in the men’s 35-39 years in the 2.1km and 1km races, Steve De Lorenzo (men’s 55-59 years 2.1km and 1km), Madeline Blomberg (women’s 25-29 years 2.1km), Dori Miller (women’s 40-44 years 2.1km), Louise Santos (women’s 45-49 years 2.1km) and Michael Pollard (men’s 25-29 years 1km) were the successful Bondi club representatives.

SEE IT IN PICTURES: GALLERY OF THE BONDI BLUEWATER

A total of 680 swimmers entered the four races, staged by the Bondi club and organised by Ocean Swims NSW, which were swum in a surprisingly moderate surf, not affected by the recent cyclonic weather in Queensland.

The event also supported Can Do, with a percentage of the entry fees donated to the cancer research charity.

Caroline Christian of Vaucluse and Emily Simpson of Orange get ready to contest the 1km swim at Bondi Beach. Picture: John Appleyard

FULL RESULTS:

Men’s 2.1km fastest: Tom Montgomery (Scarborough) 22min 14 sec.

13-19 years: Tom Montgomery (Scarborough, 22:14) 1, Cormac Guthrie (Matraville, 23:10) 2, Josh Stevens, (Centennial Park, 23:20) 3.

20-24 years: Ryan Timerley (Randwick, 26:14) 1, Lewis Harvey (28:42) 2, Dan Murray (Randwick, 28:56) 3.

25-29 years: Greg Shein (26:13) 1, Tom Miller (Bondi, 26:27) 2, Scott Williamson (Caringbah, 28:50) 3.

30-34 years: Andre Da Cunha (25:02) 1, Paul Derricott (Newtown, 28:43) 2, Paul Heydon (Coogee, 28:46) 3.

35-39 years: Simon Nothling (Bondi, 24:40) 1, Daniel Hale (28:30) 2, Mark Crampton (West Pymble, 29:05) 3.

40-44 years: John McClelland (Newport, 26:56) 1, Michael Bova (30:46) 2, Joe Watkins (Neutral Bay, 32:02) 3.

45-49 years: Mark O’Sullivan (Maroubra, 27:18) 1, Keith McDonald (Coogee, 27:40) 2, Trevor Kemper (Stanwell Park, 30:00) 3.

50-54 years: Stephen Ford (Riverview, 28:03) 1, Rod O’Connor (Mosman, 29:40) 2, Graeme Ellis (30:04) 3.

55-59 years: Steve De Lorenzo (Bondi, 28:25) 1, Niell Boustred (Turramurra, 30:20) 2, Peter McCrae (South Maroota, 31:22) 3.

60-64 years: Barry Bunton (Sydney, 30:42) 1, John Freeman (32:05) 2, Stewart Fairbairn (West Pennant Hills, 33:14) 3.

65-69 years: Barry Mullavey (39:50) 1, Tom McBride (Ultimo, 43:16) 2, Murray Welstead (48:48) 3. 70-75 years: No entries.

75 years and over: John Kelso (Balgowlah, 36:09) 1, Bruce Burns (42:03) 2, Norm McIntyre (Drummoyne, 1:06.29) 3.

Clive Dowdell, Jim Donaldson, Jeremie Leca and Coralie Darrot, chat before the start of the 1km swim. Picture: John Appleyard

A wave of competitors hit the water at the start of the 1km swim. Picture: John Appleyard

Women’s 2.1km fastest: Samantha Watts (Acacia Gardens) 23min 14 sec.

13-19 years: Brooke Manning (33:09) 1, Isabella Dobozy (Mascot, 42:18) 2, no third.

20-24 years: Samantha Watts (Acacia Gardens, 23:24) 1, Kate Hilliard (26:19) 2, Lucy Dean (Kingsford, 32:03) 3.

25-29 years: Madeline Blomberg (Bondi, 26:31) 1, Tessa Garside (28:51) 2, Beth Miles (Ryde, 28:53) 3.

30-34 years: Felicity Middleton (Binalong, 30:22) 1, Rowena Solomons (Wollstonecraft, 33:42) 2, Elizabeth Noad (34:14) 3.

35-39 years: Elisha Smith (Malabar, 26:33) 1, Nari Lawrey (28:45) 2, Lorraine Cullen (Bronte, 29:14) 3.

40-44 years: Dori Miller (Bondi, 28:32) 1, Margaret Simpson-Lee (30:50) 2, Philippa Billings (Bondi Junction, 32:28) 3.

45-49 years: Louise Santos (Bondi, 30:06) 1, Jo-Anne Elliott (Darlinghurst, 33:01) 2, Jen Gwynne (34:55) 3.

50-54 years: Fiona Hockley (Warnervale, 35:38) 1, Kate Windon (36:03) 2, Jenny Danks (Seaforth, 36:50) 3.

55-59 years: Jane McCallum (Ainslie, 28:07) 1, Lisa Critoph (Elanora, 30:29) 2, Clare Starr (Kingston, 32:22) 3.
60-64 years: Judy Playfair (Earlwood, 32:21) 1, Carol Russell (37:35) 2, Margaret Wilby (38:07) 3. 65-69 years: No entries.

70-74 years: Ginny Hedderman (35:35) 1, Lea Hill (Bondi, 37:22) 2, Sue Wiles (Wentworth Falls, 46:45) 3.

Elisha Smith makes it back to shore in the 1km race. Picture: John Appleyard

Men’s 1km fastest: Tom Montgomery (Scarborough) 13min 04 sec.

13-19 years: Tom Montgomery (Scarborough, 13:04) 1, Cormac Gutherie (Matraville, 13:18) 2, Josh Stevens (Centennial Park, 13:25) 3.

20-24 years: Alex Gohdri (14:37) 1, Kevin Ghazi (15:48) 2, no third.

25-29 years: Michael Pollard (Bondi, 14:49) 1, Emil Heath (17:48) 2, Jared Ashdown (18:55) 3. 30-34 years: Andre Da Cunha (13:51) 1, Troy Stewart (14:50) 2, Paul Derricott (Newtown, 17:14) 3.

35-39 years: Simon Nothling (Bondi, 13:43) 1, Andre Dalton (15:18) 2, Blake Francis (15:33) 3. 40-44 years: Toby Barber (Bondi, 18:30) 1, Jono Smith (Randwick, 18:45) 2, Adrian Kors (19:03) 3.

45-49 years: Keith McDonald (Coogee, 15:42) 1, Robert Salamon (North Bondi, 18:37) 2, John Sweet (Kew, 22:05) 3.

50-54 years: Stephen Ford (Riverview, 15:47) 1, Harry Hirschowitz (Bondi, 16:56) 2, Brian May (17:06) 3.

55-59 years: Steve De Lorenzo (Bondi, 15:48) 1, Peter McCrae (South Maroota, 18:01) 2, Warren Smith (Kotara, 18:12) 3.

60-64 years: Barry Bunton (Sydney, 18:06) 1, David Hall (Neutral Bay, 23:06) 2, Clive Dowdell (Bronte, 23:22) 3.

65-70 years: Paul Wyatt (18:44) 1, Bruce Campbell (Avalon, 23:56) 2, Bruce Lorking (Wamberal, 23:58) 3.

70-74 years: No entries.

75 years and over: Roy Swan (24:01), no 2 and 3.

Racers get underway at the start of the 2km race.

Women’s 1km fastest: Nicola Watts 15min 50 sec.

13-19 years: Nicola Watts (15:50) 1, Karla Edmondson-Jones (18:23) 2, Cyan Swan (19:10) 3. 20-24 years: Lucy Dean (Kingsford), 17:25) 1, Manthy Gentin (21:05) 2, Emma Keast (Eastwood, 24:11) 3.

25-29 years: Jessica Heath (Carlton, 19:35) 1, Meg Achilles (Potts Point, 19:56) 2, Lina Izossimova (Freshwater, 20:25) 3.

30-34 years: Margot Harley (Monterey, 21:39) 1, Alice Wilson (North Bondi, 22:20) 2, Angela Bradburn (23:15) 3.

35-39 years: Elisha Smith (Malabar, 15:15) 1, Lorraine Cullen (Bronte, 16:44) 2, Belinda Bullivant (Bondi, 18:47) 3.

40-44 years: Melissa Collins (Leichhardt, 21:36) 1, Toni Weeks (21:49) 2, Emma Norton (Randwick, 23:31) 3.

45-49 years: Deb Williamson (Melrose Park, 20:25) 1, Donna Moclair (21:20) 2, Annabel Spring (23:32) 3.

50-54 years: Zoe Little (Queens Park, 20:57) 1, Jacquelin Perske (23:16) 2, Paula McNamara (27:03) 3.

55-59 years: Jane McCallum (Ainslie, 16:01) 1, Lisa Critoph (Elanora, 18:01) 2, Jill Pettifer (Ainslie, 20:10) 3.

60-64 years: Janet McCormack (29:01) 1, no 2 and 3.

65-69 years: Anna Russell (34:42) 1, no 2 and 3. 70-74 years: Maggi (Bondi, 28:05) 1, no 2 and 3.

A round of racers get underway at the start of the 2km race. Picture: John Appleyard

500-metre race: (13 years and over) men’s: Robert Finnie (Rose Bay, 8:43) 1, Iain Wilson (Paddington, 9:08) 2, Jim Donaldson (Westleigh, 9:26) 3.

Women’s: Lucy Dean (Kingsford, 7:42) 1, Zoe Little (Queens Park, 8:52) 2, Deb Williamson (Melrose Park, 9:01) 3

500m race (9 to 12 years), men’s: Thomas Oates (8.00), Angus Aitken (Bondi, 8:45) 2, Cooper Mundell (North Bondi, 8:51) 3. Women’s: Alexandra Schacht (6:21) 1, Kirsty Beattie (8:30) 2, Jessica Oates (8:54) 3.