Swim Rotorua are celebrating after winning the top two titles at the iconic Hinemoa Swim event on Saturday.
Close to 80 swimmers emulated the legend of Hinemoa's epic journey in a different interpretation to the original route with competitors swimming 2km across Tikitapu (Blue Lake). John Paul College students Milla Theobold, 13, and David Boles, 16, were the first female and male to finish the Hinemoa-Tutanekai 2km non wetsuit race.
Milla, who could barely lift the large intricately carved Hinemoa trophy, finished in 29m 16s to beat off fellow Swim Rotorua athletes Emily Spear (30m 22s) and Annelyse Cowie (31m 01s). Milla also won the women's field overall.
Milla said she was surprised with her top placing after competing without a wetsuit in open water competition for the first time.
"I'm so happy, I aimed to finish near the top but didn't think I would actually win it," Milla said. "The trophy is massive - almost as big as me and so heavy. It's a really cool event to win.
"I did well because I just focused on my own race and it helped that I chose a good line to swim and led from the front."
David clinched the smaller Tutanekai trophy finishing in 28m 42s, over a minute ahead of second placed teammate Damon Cowie (30m 19s) and third finisher Rotorua Association of Triathletes (RATS) swimmer David Blackmore (34m 16s).
Despite the victory David said he was a "little disappointed" with his time as he was the first finisher in the race afterteammate Jack Weston (28m 26s) whowas wearing a wetsuit.
"It was a hard race and it was a bit disappointing because I wanted to win overall as well," David said. "I took the wrong line and Jack made sure he had a better one. I tried to get to the front but it was too much ground to make up."
"It's still great to take such a cool trophy home though and it was an amazing day at the lake."
The Hinemoa Swim was hosted by Rotorua Association of Triathletes (RATS) and was also part of theweekend's Economist Blue Lake Multisport Festival's 2km open water swim with 100 swimmers taking part in total.
Swim Rotorua assistant coach Bronwen Radford said she was especially delighted to have a club swimmer etched on the Hinemoa trophy after a long period.
"This year was amazing to take out both Hinemoa Swim trophies - I can't remember when that last happened. It would be especially great to see Milla up there and came as a little bit of a surprise."
"Once again Rotorua has done this iconic race justice, it was superb. RATS have done an amazing job organising this. It's such an important event in the area because of the history behind it and what that original swim meant to Hinemoa. Long shall it continue."
The Hinemoa Swim is the first of four races in Rotorua's 2017 swim the lake series. The next event is the Lake Rotoma Kiwanis (Green Lake) open water Swim.
2017 Hinemoa Swim results:
Hinemoa trophy: 1. Milla Theobold (Swim Rotorua) 29m 16s; 2. Emily Spear (Swim Rotorua) 30m 22s; 3. Annelyse Cowie (Swim Rotorua) 31m 01s.
Tutanekai trophy: 1. David Boles (Swim Rotorua) 28m 42s; Damon Cowie (Swim Rotorua) 30m 19s 3. David Blackmore (RATS) 34m 16s.
