Personal quinella finish to river swim

EVENING OUT: Dan Morrissy had a winning time, finishing first in the NZ Masters Games open water swim on the Whanganui River last night.PHOTOS/LEWIS GARDNER

THE finish of the NZ Masters Games open water swim proved a romantic affair with the first woman home hot on the heels of her life partner.

Dan Morrissy, 39, was first out of the water, while his girlfriend, Mary Reilly, 33, was second with just two minutes separating the pair after the 2km journey down the Whanganui River.

Morrissy, a doctor in the emergency department at Wanganui Hospital, stopped the clock at 19m 29s on an outgoing tide, while Reilly, a nurse at Wanganui Hospital, finished in 21m 09s.

Both come from competitive swimming backgrounds back in their homeland of the United States.

"I swam age group and university competition before focusing on studies," Morrissy said.

"It felt great today. The water was great and a nice crowd cheering us on. Mary and I have swum some open water stuff and, in fact, did reasonably well in a 5km race in Taupo just last month."

Reilly said the river swim was quite different to Lake Taupo where there was no current and the distance was a tad further than yesterday's effort.

"I pretty much gave up swimming a year into university, I was too busy focusing on my studies too," she said.

Both were excited to have produced the quinella in the race and to have achieved in their new home, Wanganui.

More than 30 swimmers took to the water yesterday and the field soon strung out as the various ages and swimming styles kicked in. The oldest competitor was in his 80s and was the last swimmer home, although not by much and he looked to have a bit in reserve.