MELBOURNE youngster Hamish Rowland visits family in Warrnambool every Christmas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This year, the Bayside Swimming Club member added an open water swim to his schedule.
Rowland, 12, was the first swimmer across the line in the inaugural Shipwreck Coast Swim Series’ 400-metre beginners’ race yesterday.
The three-course swim series has expanded to include short course swims at its Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Port Campbell competitions. Rowland, of East Bentleigh, said his open water experience was minimal.
“The start was a bit rough and coming around the first buoy there were these two people who were next to me, and they were much older than me I think, and coming around the buoy I must have lost them or something,” he said.
“It is lots of fun.”
Rowland’s father Peter, along with an aunt, uncle and cousin, competed in the first leg of the Shipwreck Coast Swim Series.
The talented visitor said he competed at the Victorian age championships in Melbourne last week.
“I didn’t get into any finals but I qualified for four events — 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 50m freestyle and I also did a couple of relays,” he said.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au