FERNDOWN Otters' distance specialist Rory Smith has won the annual Brownsea Island swim for the third year running.

Smith, who is also a member of RLSS Poole Lifeguard, which organises the swim, completed the 4.6-mile journey around the island in 1hr 34min 18sec.

But he was pushed all the way by Rob Kellaway (1hr 35min 27sec).

The overall winner and runner-up were also first in the men's non-wetsuit and wetsuit categories respectively.

Christina Squire, swimming the island for the first time, outpaced all but two of the men to finish third overall and claim the first lady and ladies' wetsuit titles in a time of 1hr 35min 37sec.

Kate Mason, from Weyport Masters, completed the course for the sixth year running in 1hr 40min 7sec to win the ladies' non-wetsuit category for the fourth time. She was eighth overall.

Last home was Angela Medley, who battled against cramps, extreme cold and fatigue to complete the full distance in 2hr 40min 17sec.

Philip Richardson won the Half Island Swim in 1hr 1min 30sec.

All 38 starters finished the full course with another six achieving their half-distance target. No-one retired during the race.

The event, marking RLSS Poole Lifeguard's 30th anniversary, was blessed with sunny weather.

But winning times were slower than usual due to a combination of spring tides and the fact that ferry schedules forced organisers to start the race 85 minutes before the tide turned.

"This favoured the slower swimmers but affected the times of the leaders, who had to combat the incoming tide most of the way down the second half of the island," said organiser Mark Shakles.

Results

Overall: 1 Rory Smith (F) 1:34.18, 2 Rob Kellaway (U) 1:35.27, 3 Christina Squire (U) 1:35.37, 4 Rob Morris (U) 1:37.25, 5 Rachel Gillingham (U) 1:37.49, 6 Tasha Morey (U) 1:38.19, 7 Tony Harris (PSC) 1:38.19, 8 Kate Mason (W) 1:40.07, 9 Tom Martin (U) 1:40.42, Barry Adams (U) 1:40.45, 10 Martyn Fisher (PTC) 1:41.56, 11 Mike Wild (TLK) 1.42.03, 12 Mayur Ranchordas (PX/TLK) 1:42.06, 13 Denzil Hunt (PTC) 1:43.18, 14 Ed Gibbs (NDT) 1:44.04, 15 Nick Berry (NDT) 1:44.32, 16 Jodie Bateman (W) 1:45.01, 17 Julia Aston (W) 1:47.47, 18 Rupa Morris (S) 1:49.11, 19 Pip Bowden (U) 1:49.34, 20 Susan Aitken (W) 1:50.19, 21 Shonagh Withey (NA) 1:51.50, 22 Michael Regan (U) 1:52.25, 23 Ann Richardson (U) 1:52.32, 24 Lynn Ette (W) 1:55.49, 25 Helen Crawford (B) 1:57.51, 26 Harry Gibbs (U) 1:58.04, 27 Andrew Berry (NDT) 1:58.43, 28 Tina Otton (W) 1:58.59, 29 Ali Budynkiewicz (B) 1:59.17, 30 Lynda Hagon (U) 2:00.49, 31 Ann Lewis (W) 2:02.40, 32 David Crichton (B) 2:08.28, 33 Stella Swindells (U) 2:10.55, 34 Ann McGrath (U) 2:11.26, 35 Sonia Gale (BLGC) 2:12.28, 36 Tracey Shipley (U) 2:16.19, 37 Anna Wardley (U) 2:26.59, 38 Angela Medley (U) 2:40.17.

Half-swim overall: 1 Philip Richardson (U) 1:01.30, 2 Harriet Ridolfo (B) 1:02.29, 3 Nick Bateson (AT/AC) 1:08.04, 4 Richard Sawdon (U) 1:12.56, 5 Leanne Marr (U) 1:18.43.

Key: AT=Army Triathlon, B=Bournemouth Dolphins, F=Ferndown Otters, NA=Newton Abbott Masters, NDT=North Dorset Triathlon Club, PSC=Poole Swimming Club, PTC=Poole Triathlon Club, PX=Plaent X, S=Spencer Swim Club, TLK=Team Lewis Kit, U=Unattached, W=Weymouth Masters.