Gillespie to defend Legend of the Lake title

Stefannie Gillsepie wins last year's Legend of the Lake open water swim. PHOTO/FILE A_280216bf15.JPG

Stefannie Gillespie is set to defend her Legend of the Lake title as the open water Ocean Swim series hits Rotorua.

The only fresh water swim of the series, Gillespie (Matamata) won the event a year ago and is likely to repeat the win at 3.5km swim at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) tomorrow.

The Legend of the Lake is the third swim in the series, with Gillespie finishing second to Charlotte Webby in the Sand to Surf at Mount Maunganui then missing the second event, Auckland's Harbour Crossing.

Webby won't be in Rotorua, but Gillespie's challenges are like to come from Claudia Ashby (Hamilton), Sammy Winward (Auckland) and Bridget Maher (Auckland).

The men's race last year was won by local favourite Kane Radford who won't be defending his title.

That leaves the way open for Matt Scott (Auckland) to retain his so far unbeaten record in the series after he took line honours at Mount Maunganui and Auckland.

Scott also won the 10km Open Water Championship in Lake Taupo last month.

Also in the mix for the Legend of the Lake men's race are a trio of fellow Aucklanders, Phillip Ryan, Jackson Dawson and Sebastien Priscott. Priscott pushed Scott all the way in Taupo, and the pair could well feature in a close finish.

Swim Rotorua's Scott Boles, 16, has also shown up well this season, finishing third in the Sand to Surf and winning the Hinemoa Swim at the same stretch of water as tomorrow's race at the end of January.

In just its second year the Legend of the Lake has proved to be a popular addition to the national series and is also incorporated into the four round local Swim the Lakes Rotorua series.

As well as the 3.5km swim, which starts at 11am, there are 1km (1.45pm), 500m (1.47pm) and 200m (Ocean Kids - 1.30pm) distance swims.

The next round of the Ocean Swim series will be the Christchurch Crown on March 4, while the Swim the Lakes series finishes with the Rotary Rotorua open water swim at Lake Okataina on March 12.