More than 100 teams tackle tough Breca swim/run

A pack of swimmers cut through the water in the Bay of Islands in the Breca swim/run competition over the weekend. Photo / Flash Gordon Photography

Scores of athletes from 107 teams lined up for this year's physical endurance test that is the Breca swim/run in the Bay of Islands on the weekend.

Teams could compete in two races, the sprint distance (17.2km) on Saturday and the full distance (37.3km) on the Sunday. Competitors ran and swam their way from Paihia around to Otehei Bay, swimming to and running across numerous islands in the Bay, completing 24 transitions in and out of the water

The first team across the line were team, Swim 360, in a just six hours. They were followed five hours and 21 minutes later by team, Can't Die, Won't Die, who gutted it out on the course for over 11 hours.

Team Crofty, Maia Croft (right) and Alise Croft, launch themselves into the water. Photo / Flash Gordon Photography

Axel Wohlfarth, part of the Brown Bear Express team with Neil Kench, finds a way to cool himself down after a run. Photo / Flash Gordon Photography

Ian 'Kamo kid' Jones smiles after completing the race, from left: Tracey Lockey, Ross Lockey, Ian Jones, David Clough. Photo / Flash Gordon Photography