Glover Chalks up the Swimming Miles in State Epic Swim

orgive Casey Glover if he does not join in the usual celebrations at the conclusion of tomorrow’s 10km swim at the State New Zealand Open Water Championships in Taupo.

The big Wellington swimmer will return to the water almost immediately to compete in the 2.5km swim, having previously started the day with the 5km swim to complete a 17.5km workout in the crystal clear waters of Lake Taupo in the annual State Epic Swim, which comprises the national open water championships with a range of recreational swims.

Glover, a former national champion, has his sights set on a crossing of the English Channel and is using the annual Epic Swim to build towards that.

The 26 year old is well qualified to take on the challenge, as the current record holder for the 30km Cook Strait crossing of 4hrs 37mins set back in 2008, a north to south crossing that remains 30 minutes quicker than the next closest of the 83 successful swims.

Glover’s initial aim is to qualify to take on the English Channel, which requires a six-hour minimum open water swim. His plans are to complete a crossing of Lake Taupo next month, a daunting 41km distance from one end to the other, which he expects to take around 10 hours.

“The English Channel is something I have always wanted to do, I guess ever since the Cook Strait,” Glover said. “I had always wanted to do Cook Strait ever since I was a kid.

“The English Channel is the next step. It has taken a while to work to it and I am busy raising the funds to do it. It’s an expensive exercise and I want to do it properly. Right now I have a fundraising page and also looking for sponsors.”

Glover said the opportunity to take part in the open water swims was too good to miss.

“It’s a fun weekend and a chance to get in some good open water mileage but also with some intensity.”

He knows that next month’s test to accomplish the length of Lake Taupo is daunting.

“It is probably going to be more difficult and certainly longer than the English Channel. We are thinking if all goes well, it could be 10 hours. That is well and truly enough to get comply to take on the English Channel.”

He has enlisted the support of open water great Philip Rush, a six-time finisher across Cook Strait and also the record holder for the double and triple crossing of the English Channel. He is currently Swimming New Zealand’s Open Water Manager, and will no doubt have a weather eye both on Glover and his high performance swimmers led by Cara Baker and Kane Radford, who are looking to qualify for the world championships tomorrow.

Racing begins at 8am tomorrow with the 10km national open water championship starting at 10am. However Glover’s day will finish much later in the day after close to 20kms of swimming towards his big goals ahead.

CAPTION: Casey Glover.

Image credit: Photosport

For full details: www.epicswim.co.nz

For further information: IAN HEPENSTALL  Media Manager Swimming NZ High Performance Sports Media NZ Ltd Tel 09 2327822 Mob 0275 613181 E: ian@sportsmedianz.com Skype: kiwiheps