Jessica Roux was the swimming sensation at the 2011 EP Open Water Swimming championships held at Marina Martinique over the weekend, claiming gold in both the 10km and 5km events. The EP 10km championships was not without drama as early leader and pre-race favourite, Chris van de Sande, withdrew after 6km. Van de Sande who held a narrow lead over Roux and visiting Gauteng swimmer Zoe Venter, complained of a tight chest and breathing difficulties which forced him out of all championship races over the weekend. Roux fought off a brave challenge from Venter, eventually dropping her after the 6km mark and extending her lead throughout to win in a very fast the 10km in a time of 2hr 07min and 2 secs from Venter with Michael Marais, the leading male swimmer, in 3rd place and claiming his 2nd successive 10km Mens title.
“This was a fantastic swim and I’m very happy with my result,” said an excited Roux after the race. “The course change to 1km laps helped us set a faster pace and it was great having Zoe pushing me for the first 6 laps. Today was a near perfect swim for me and I’m very happy.”
Roux now leaves for Durban to train under National swim coach, Graeme Hill, for the next two months in preparation for the SA Nationals which take place at Marina Martinique in the middle of April. As a result Roux will miss the SPAR Redhouse River Mile at the end of this month. “The River Mile is a fantastic event, but is such a fast race and doesn’t suit me at the moment. I want to focus on the 10km swim for Senior nationals and then the Bell Buoy Challenge a week later.”
Roux’s 5km Jeffreys Bay News Swim was similar to the 10km, leading from the front and holding off the Venter challenge to win in 1hr 4min, 40 seconds ahead of Venter with Roux’s younger brother, Jonathan taking the men’s EP 3km title in 1hr 5min from Marais and Border swimmer Edward Johannisen whilst Lise-Mari Goosen got the bronze in the ladies division. The Jones brothers, Wayne and Jason dominated the 3km Cirrus Swim with Wayne winning in 39min 9sec from older brother Jason with Johannisen claiming 3rd place whilst Jamie-Lee Schlemmer won the ladies race finishing in 6th place overall in 39min 54sec. Goosen placed second and Caro de Jager 3rd.
Unofficial shorter distance races were also held over the weekend with Schlemmer winning the 1km Training Edge Gym swim from De Jagern and Jeffreys Bay swimmer Seth de Swart whilst the locals dominated the 500m swim with Marius du Toit winning from Danie and Pieter Ellis. Rebecca Baard won the girls 500m race from Michelle Strydom and Elze Cilliers. In the kids Bank to Bank swim for the 10 and under’s, it was Tristan Zoetmulder from Kaylyn Wooding and Jan-Daniel Cilliers.
Results of EP Open Water Swimming Championships held at Marina Martinique, Sunday 5/2/2011
10km Insight Properties Swim
Men: 1 Michael Marais 2:17:51; 2 Brenton Williams 2:50:57; 3 Richden Jute 2:57:46; 4 Ralph West 2:58:48; 5 John Day 3:14:44;
Ladies: 1 Jessica Roux 2:07:02; 2 Zoe Venter 2:12:39;
5km Jeffreys Bay News Swim
Men: 1 Jonathan Roux 1:05:48; 2 Michael Marais 1:06:33; 3 Edward Johannisen 1:07:55; 4 Keenan April 1:09:37; 5 Hanre Barnard 1:09:48; 6 Dominic Greeff 1:13:44; 7 Ralph West 1:38:36;
Ladies: 1 Jessica Roux 1:04:15; 2 Zoe Venter 1:04:54; 3 Lise-mari Goosen 1:12:44; 4 Chrislie Niehaus 1:16:42; 5 Tammy Geyer 1:20:46; 6 Denise Bosman 1:28:31;
3km Cirrus Swim
Men: 1 Wayne Jones 37:09; 2 Jason Jones 37:21; 3 Edward Johannisen 37:29; 4 Jonathan Roux 39:06; 5 Quintin Van staden 39:09; 6 Kurt Van staden 40:22; 7 Suhail Soomar 43:06; 8 J c Van wyk 43:09; 9 Jack Chulumanco 46:19; 10 Seth De swardt 46:25; 11 Alan Searle 49:48; 12 Francis Searle 50:06; 13 Teko Khetsi 54:01; 14 Chris Viljoen 55:06;
Ladies: 1 Jamie-lee Schlemmer 39:54; 2 Lise-mari Goosen 40:43; 3 Caro De jager 41:37; 4 Tammy Geyer 45:00; 5 Anzè Zeelie 45:25; 6 Tiemke Rijpstra 46:48; 7 Denise Bosman 48:28; 8 Elsa Craig 54:05; 9 Helene Botha 1:12:30;
14u Boys: 1 Seth De swardt 46:25; 2 Teko Khetsi 54:01;
14u Girls: 1 Jamie-lee Schlemmer 39:54; 2 Caro De jager 41:37;
15-16 Boys: 1 Wayne Jones 37:09; 2 Edward Johannisen 37:29; 3 Jonathan Roux 39:06;
15-16 Girls: 1 Lise-mari Goosen 40:43;
17-18 Boys: 1 Jason Jones 37:21; 2 Quintin Van staden 39:09;
17-18 Girls: 1 Tammy Geyer 45:00; 2 Anzè Zeelie 45:25;
19-30 Ladies: 1 Helene Botha 1:12:30;
31-40 Men: 1 Alan Searle 49:48;
31-40 Girls: 1 Tiemke Rijpstra 46:48;
41-50 Men: 1 J c Van wyk 43:09;
51-60 Ladies: 1 Denise Bosman 48:28;
over 60 Men: 1 Francis Searle 50:06; 2 Chris Viljoen 55:06;
over 60 Ladies: 1 Elsa Craig 54:05;
1km Training Edge Gym Swim
Men: 1 Seth De swardt 15:18; 2 Nick Reen 15:47; 3 Richden Jute 15:51; 4 Ludeke Niehaus 16:09; 5 Teko Khetsi 16:19; 6 Rencke De swardt 17:22; 7 Malan Steenkamp 17:24; 8 Darryn Van Huyssteen 17:45;
Ladies: 1 Jamie-lee. Schlemmer 13:12; 2 Caro De jager 14:25; 3 Tiemke Rijpstra 15:26; 4 Nepo Ntsono 15:45; 5 Stephani Le roux 15:50; 6 Tayla van Huyssteen 17:43; 7 Anja Franzsen 17:52; 8 Anne De swardt 18:30; 9 Lydia Agenbach 22:45;
500m Swim
Men: 1 Marius Du Toit 09:04; 2 Danie Ellis 09:05; 3 Pieter Ellis 09:26; 4 Kyle de Villiers 10:14; 5 Lars Franzsen 10:25; 6 Wian Moore 11:32; 7 Dillon Wooding 12:52;
Ladies: 1 Rebecca Baard 09:33; 2 Michell Strydom 09:34; 3 Elze Cilliers 11:38;
Kids Bank-Bank Swim
Boys: 1 Tristan Zoetmulder 00:30; 2 Jan-daniel Cilliers 00:40; 3 Aiden De Villiers 00:45; 4 Richard Janse van rensburg 01:07; 5 Noah De swardt 01:08;
Girls: 1 Kaylyn Wooding 00:34; 2 Hayley Van Niekerk 00:48; 3 Claudia Zoetmulder 00:49; 4 Abbygail Janse van rensburg 01:34;
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