Hong Kong played the perfect host for the first race of the new World Open Water Swimming Series, the Jax Coco Shek O Challenge, on Saturday.
Craig Nortje, 36, (left) was the first to complete the 2.2km swim from Big Wave Bay to Shek O beach in 31 minutes 25 seconds. Following one minute later was 54-year-old Eric Johnson in 32:25, jostling with schoolboys Oscar Coggins, 14, and Angus Kelleher, 15, finishing in 32:27 and 32:41 respectively.
Meanwhile 13-year-old Aneekah Styles was the first female - and eighth overall - in 34:53 in her first solo open water swim. Event co-organiser Doug Woodring said: "Older swimmers have talent, and the young ones are up-and-coming super stars." An 8.5km run as well as a 9km canoe course were run.
The run was won by David Gething, the canoe race by Tsim Yick-yuen and the team event by Hong Kong Football Club.