Thriller: Robert Campbell dashes out of the water with Kate Murphy hot on his heels in a thrilling conclusion to the Wharf to Winery. Photo: Steve Huntley
Photo by
Steve Huntley
After swimming three kilometres down the Murray River, a mad dash across the shoreline in the Wharf to Winery event on Sunday was the decisive element needed to split the top finishers in a thrilling conclusion to the Multisport Weekend.
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Robert Campbell and Melburnian Kate Murphy were the first of the 113 swimmers out of the Murray but were met with a muddy slog to the finish after a gruelling traverse.
In the end, it was Campbell to hit the wall first in a time of 28 minutes and 32 seconds, a mere four seconds ahead of Murphy and a fast-finishing Regan Hollioake, who rounded out the overall podium after taking out the women’s sprint triathlon a day earlier.
Campbell and Murphy pocketed a cool $500 as the first male and female superclass swimmers across the line.
Tough going: Robert Campbell (left), Regan Hollioke (centre) and Kate Murphy take a breather after a gruelling slog down the Murray River. Photo: Steve Huntley
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“We were coming up from Melbourne for a holiday in Cobram and I saw there was a race in Echuca,” Murphy said.
“Robert and I both thought there was someone else in front of us. We thought we were racing for second and third.
“I was expecting a pontoon, but then we realised you had to run through the mud and kept falling over.”
“It was probably the funniest finish I’ve had in my life, I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“It was harder than I expected and I had no idea where the finish was given it was my first time.
“It was a beautiful swim and a fantastic, well-run event. The post-event support and celebrations they put on were fantastic, it sets it apart from other races.”
A strong field of 113 swimmers took to the water, bringing a close to the 2023 Multisport Weekend.
In the open categories it was Jeff Swan and Sarah Howe who finished first, while junior male and female honours went to Nathan Richard and Jo Brown.
Full results can be found on page 19 of the Riverine Herald.
