Spain’s Jose Luis Larrosa wins solo Clean Half Extreme Marathon Swim

Spain’s Jose Luis Larrosa won the 15km Clean Half Extreme Marathon Swim solo event between Stanley and Deep Water Bay.

Larrosa, who also won the famed 81km Ganges River Swim in India in just under 11 hours two weeks ago, clocked three hours, 30 minutes and 32 seconds to beat Australian Scott Miers by just under five minutes, with Hong Kong teenager Bill Thorley, 14, third in 3:52:19.

Thorley is the youngest male ever to solo the course.

Hong Kong’s Mary Kwoh was the fastest finishing female swimmer in 4:26:59.

“The weather was incredible today, and though we thought of delaying the race, it turned out to be one of the best days ever to help celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary,” said race director Doug Woodring.

“We are excited to be developing the sports community, while also raising awareness about ocean protection.”

In total, 12 solo swimmers, 56 relay teams containing five members each and also six teams of two members in the yaks category competed in the event on Saturday.

The HKFC McBean’s Bombers men’s team of Stuart Tait, Vasco van der Flier, Singha Chau, Craig Nortje and David O’Brien posted the fastest time in the team event of 3:13:41 with each team swimmer swimming for 20 minutes for the first rotation of the team, and then swimming in 10 minute intervals until the finish line.