The countdown is on for this weekend’s State La Grande swim in Akaroa with 850 swimmers expected to take the plunge this Saturday 23 February. The youngest registered swimmer is a Christchurch 7 year old who is not phased to be named as the youngest – she is the youngest of four so is well versed in keeping up with older kids.
Abby Reid who enjoys swimming at the beach and in lakes and rivers has been training at Spencer Park Surf Life Saving Club alongside two of her sisters. She will be taking part in the State OceanKids 200m event alongside her 9 year old sister, Tessa, who will be showing her the ropes having taken part in this event last year.
Other distances on offer include a 300m, 1km and the long 2.8km swim.
Abby says she wanted to take part in this event because, “I really like swimming in the sea and I just wanted to try it. My sisters said it was really fun when they did it last year.”
Proud mum, Lisa Reid says,“Abby is the youngest of four girls and the older three all did the State Ocean Swim last year and loved it so she’s extremely keen to catch up with them.”
State NZ Ocean Swim Series Event Director, Scott Rice says, “This series is all about giving it a go so it’s great to see swimmers of all ages and abilities taking part. We hope that Abby’s enthusiasm encourages others to take the plunge.”
The fastest age group swimmers at each of the six State OceanKids events (boy and girl), will become members of the inaugural Jetstar Super Swim Squad. They will each win a once-in-a-lifetime experience – a weekend squad camp in Auckland in April with Olympic swimmers!
