Latest news with #oceanrace
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie ocean swimmer shocked at worlds double gold
Australia's Moesha Johnson is shocked but stoked at winning the 5km ocean race for a golden double at the world championships. Johnson triumphed in Friday's 5km race in Singapore by just one second, after winning the 10km gold on Wednesday. "A little bit of shock," Johnson said at her feat. Johnson, who won Olympic 10km silver last year, pipped Italian Ginevra Taddeucci in a sprint finish. Taddeucci shaded Johnson until the Australian produced a final surge to touch just one second ahead of her rival. The Italian also took silver in the 10km behind the Tweeds Head powerhouse. "That was harder than I expected, the body is not feeling too crash hot," Johnson said. "I could not hold a line … I was like: Where am I?" Her 10km win came amid postponements due to poor water quality on a draining day for Johnson. But instead of savouring that gold, or resting up for the shorter race, Johnson returned to the training venue on Thursday, a nominal day off. "To come away with two world titles in two-plus days, in 30 degrees plus water, you can't ask for much more than that," she said. "And I am so proud for our sport and I am stoked for my country. "We're top of the medal table and we've never had back-to-back golds, I am just so proud of what we have all achieved." She won the 5km title in one hour two minutes 1.30 seconds while Japan's Ichika Kajimoto (1:02:28.90) claimed the bronze medal. Johnson, who also finished sixth in the 1500m freestyle at last year's Paris Olympics, collected Australia's third medal of the world titles, with Kyle Lee winning bronze in Wednesday's men's 10km race. Within minutes of crossing the finish line, Johnson was giving tips about the course to Lee and fellow Australian Thomas Raymond for the men's 5km race. Lee finished seventh and rookie Raymond came 10th, while Johnson's act earnt praise from Australia's ocean swim head coach, Brazilian-born Fernando Possenti. "Moesha, still with timing chips on, wanting to tell the boys about the course … this is a team that carries their country inside their heart," he said. "We have two days to go and now we reset … and go again for the 3km knockout sprint tomorrow." Johnson will chase a third gold medal in the last ocean event, the mixed 4x1500 freestyle, on Saturday. World championship competition at the pool starts on July 27.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
International boat race held in Pembrokeshire celebrates 10th anniversary
An international water sports event held in Pembrokeshire celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer with top class racing in sometimes tricky conditions. Fishguard Bay Ocean Race (FBOR) began in 2016 as the brainchild of local resident Benjamin Edom, the race has evolved into the Welsh Surfski National Championships and a GB team selection race for events such as this year's World Championships, South Africa. Advertisement 'After spending 10 years in Australia where surfski is a major sport with hundreds of competitors, I wanted to highlight Fishguard Bay's ideal surfski environment and invited some top GB paddlers to give it a go.' says Ben. (Image: Julia Moffett) 'The ski paddlers were captivated by our coastal scenery and the clean, deep ocean at our doorstep –and they came back the next year. Many paddlers now call it their favourite race of the season' The ocean race kept going through the covid years and the event is now the only regatta in the UK spread over an entire weekend. (Image: Julia Moffett) Saturday's race is exclusively for Elite paddlers seeking selection for the GB team on a challenging 17 km course of open ocean from Goodwick, to Newport Sands. Advertisement Sunday's race is open to known competent intermediate and advanced paddlers capable of safely finishing a shorter, more accessible, course from Goodwick to Newport Sands. (Image: Julia Moffett) Also included is the mixed double ski class which enables elites from Saturday to race a second time, again for selection, but in a more fun and relaxed event. New at Goodwick this year, FBOR hosted Fishguard's first AquaPaddle, a water sport equivalent of a park run, where there is no winner and every level of paddler is welcome. Saturday dawned almost still, and the early mist soon turned to fog, blotting out the view of Dinas head from Goodwick Beach. Advertisement (Image: Julia Moffett) However, the race went ahead, with the Safety Officer monitoring everyone via their GPS trackers the restricted visibility was overcome and there was some first-class racing. The Dolphin Wave for first boat across the line went to Jordan Roberts, First Lady to Brynde Kreft for the second year. The Big Dragon Welsh National Ski Championship trophy for fastest Welsh paddler was lifted high by Mat Rowlands of Rhoose for the fourth time, and the Dragon Girl for Welsh female champion was claimed by Liv Geddes of Margam for the fourth time. Trophies were handed out at a splendid ceremony and dinner at Tregroes Pantry. (Image: Julia Moffett) The forecast Sunday was not at all friendly with winds over 20 knots expected. Advertisement The race safety officers assessed the conditions and decided that it was safe to go ahead. In fact, the winds gave prime conditions for a magnificent race Mat Rowlands smashed the course record down to 52 mins 51 secs, with first double ski of Toby Peyton-Jones and Brynde Kreft finishing in 54:36 over a slightly longer course. 'Everyone had a magnificent and really enjoyable paddle with no safety concerns at any stage, either for competitors or the very professional support fleet of local volunteers,' said Ben. The class winners were: Single Open Mat Rowlands Double open: Toby Peyton-Jones and Brynde Kreft Single Masters (over 35): Simon Philpot Single Veterans (over 55): Paul Kingman. Full results can be seen at linked above.
