"It's been an amazing week. It is one that will stay in my memory for a very long time."
Fresh from his record breaking feats at the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships, Nathan Capp has now claimed the National Ocean Swim Series title, after a thrilling finish in the season ending State King of the Bays at Takapuna on Saturday.
One of four swimmers with a chance to claim the overall title and the $5,000 first prize heading onto the final event, it was Capp who was out of the blocks the fastest in the most challenging conditions faced by the swimmers this season. Driving rain and choppy seas made navigation tough, but the 22-year-old from Tauranga seemed unfazed as he rounded the first mark four body lengths clear of his nearest challenger.
However, he was soon caught by his rivals and a five strong lead group quickly formed, gradually pulling away from the field.
By the halfway mark, pre-race favourite Yasunari Hirai had worked his way to the front and as the leaders approached the final mark, the Japanese Olympic representative looked to be the man to beat.
Capp says he never panicked when Hirai took the lead.
"He got a bit of a lead on us but then the distance stayed pretty static and I wasn't sure if it was because he'd slowed down or we had sped up", said Capp.
"There were a few swells that you could use to close the gap heading towards the last marker and I had pretty much caught him up when we turned towards home."
Sure enough, as they rounded the last marker, Hirai and Capp were neck and neck, with New Zealand Open Water Champion Kane Radford and series leader Philip Ryan hot on their heels.
As the quartet hit the beach it was Capp who was quickest to his feet, sprinting across the sand to claim victory by 5 seconds, with Hirai edging Radford for second place. That saw Hirai also finish second in the overall series with Radford having to settle for third and Ryan fourth.
"It's a bit of a dream really," said Capp of his victory.
Swimming New Zealand will send a 10-strong team to contest the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia in August following an encouraging New Zealand Open Championships that finished in Auckland on Friday night.
The team, anchored by triple world championship medallist Lauren Boyle, comprises eight individuals in the pool and two open water.
