CONSISTENT Warrnambool swimmer Chris Russell capped a stellar summer in the water yesterday, claiming the overall Shipwreck Coast Swim Series win.
The 42-year-old recorded the fastest combined time of the 95 swimmers who completed all three stages of the series.
Russell’s total of 49 minutes and 33 seconds was just 22 seconds ahead of runner-up Ebony Ebenwaldner.
It was a well-overdue victory for the father-of-four, who has contested 24 swims in a row as part of the annual program.
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“I’ve been doing it for a while,” he laughed.
“Swimming is something I’ve always done to keep fit but it’s good to have something to train towards.
“I always make sure I’m ready for this series.”
Russell placed an overall third in the opening 1.2-kilometre stage at Port Fairy on January 2 with a time of 16 minutes and 47 seconds.
He followed on with another overall third at Port Campbell on January 22, over the same distance, with a time of 16:07.
Yesterday he covered the 1.4-kilometre Tony Ryan Memorial Swim course in Warrnambool in 16:39, earning him seventh place.
Russell, who has cut back his daily training from four kilometres a day to one, said he was not expecting to top the leaderboard after the three rounds.
“I was surprised,” he said.
“But I am really happy.
“I prefer to compete in the ocean.
“The conditions are always testing and you compete against different people.
“It’s a lot more fun.”
Russell admitted he was “lucky” to take out the series victory as stand-out junior Isaac Jones, who won at Port Fairy and Warrnambool, missed the second round at Port Campbell due to other commitments.
Port Campbell just happens to be Russell’s favourite event of the program.
“It’s the best location, with the cliffs, and it’s unpredictable,” he said.
“But they are all good. They would have to be the best ocean swims around.”
Endeavour Hills long distance specialist Ebenwaldner was the top female competitor across the series.
She was also overall runner-up with a combined total time of 49:55.
The bubbly 39-year-old was the first female home in all three races and beat Russell to the beach at Port Campbell and Warrnambool.
“I had only planned to swim at Port Fairy,” Ebenwaldner said yesterday.
“But then we bought a campertrailer and decided to test it out.
“I didn’t know what to expect.”
Ebenwaldner, who has qualified for the Olympic trials on three occasions, has eased off her training program since the arrival of daughter Isabella three years ago.
Both Russell and Ebenwaldner hope to defend their overall titles next year.
Meanwhile, master swimmers Simon Walsh and Sandra Skilbeck finished the series unbeaten in their classes.
mrooth@standard.fairfa x.com.au
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