It was a race to the finish in Sunday’s 57th annual Ocean Mile Swim in Qualicum Beach, and in the end a Nanaimo resident edged out a Qualicum Beach man.
Joel Lutz took the Craig Reid Trophy for first place overall, with a time of 21:42.
Jaret Abel from Qualicum Beach was the second fastest at 22:07,leading the way right up to the end when he swam past the buoy marking the turning point by a number of feet at which point Lutz took the corner and passed him.
Sixty-six participants gathered on the warm, sunny shore this year, up from 57 last year, while many more came to watch the event, centred around the boat ramp.
Swimmers this year were from around the Island, as well as Alberta, Ontario, the U.S., France and England.
Nine-year-old Camryn Stannard wowed the audience this year and took the O.H. Rye Trophy for youngest swimmer and first place for 13 and under (the John Nicholls Memorial Trophy) with a time of 31:30, down substantially from her time of 1.10:08 last year.
Other winners:
First lady: Mercedes MacDougall (J.C. Bailey Trophy) 25:45.
First place open category: Joel Lutz (Class Kwalicum Cup) 21:42.
Most senior swimmer: Barry John Graham at 74 years (Commissions Cup) 27:58.
First place 14 to 18 years: Andreas Sinats (Royal Canadian Legion Branch #76 Trophy) 23:00.
First place 19 to 25 years: Mercedes MacDougall (Ron Pearce Memorial Trophy) 25:45.
First place 26 to 35 years: Chris Alexander (Hugh Reid Trophy) 32:32.
First place 36 to 45 years: Glen Christensen (Bavaro Autobody & Glass Trophy) 23:46.
First place 46 to 55 years: Karyn Holyk (Jubilee Chalise Trophy) 34:44.
First place 56 to 64 years: Rob Higgs (Doug Taylor Memorial Cup) 31:11.
First place 65 and over: Barry John Graham (Herbert J. Welch Memorial Trophy) 27:58.
All the results can be found at www.rdn.bc.ca.