31 January 2009 - Talented youth and proven experience earned the honours in the 10km New Zealand Open Water Championships on the waterfront course in Wellington today.

Eighteen-year-old Phillip Ryan (Waterhole, Auckland) was all-class in taking the men's race in 2hr 8min 6sec ahead of Wellington's Casey Glover and his brother Daniel Ryan.

Kirsten Cameron (Ace, Waikato) showed her international experience with a superb performance to win the women's title from up-and-comers North Shore 17-year-old Alannah Jury and Wellington 15-year-old Stephanie Bennington.

The four-lap course in Oriental Parade offered plenty interest to Wellington spectators, but the brisk northerly wind proved a major test for the swimmers.

The men's field remained intact for the first two laps before Philip Ryan, who has represented New Zealand in international open water competition, took control to stretch his final advantage to nearly seven minutes.

Glover, 22 (SwimZone, Wellington), who has the fastest crossing of Cook Strait, managed to work his way clear of Daniel Ryan to claim second.

Fairfield's Jonathon Pullon won the 16-17 years division and Ashburton's Todd Howden the 13-15 years class.

Cameron, a Masters world record-holder, produced an outstanding swim to win the women's title in 2:29.32. The 35-year-old, who competed for New Zealand at the world championships two years ago, worked her way passed several of the male swimmers to win in 2:29.32.

Jury, who set a new national age group record at the recent Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, impressed in finishing second, only 3min 42sec behind the winner. She also took out the 16-17 years division.

Bennington, the youngest person to swim Cook Strait, clocked 2:36.01, just over six minutes behind the winner to take third place and also win the 13-15 years division.

Swimming New Zealand Open Water Programme Manager, Phillip Rush was impressed with the yo9ung talent in the men's field.

"The conditions were definitely very testing and not what they would normally experience in open water events," Rush said.

"Phillip Ryan has really got some potential. He will head to the Australian Championships where we will have Kane Radford back from the US to also compete and we can see them go head-for-head.

"That will be important as it is the selection for the world championships for both Australia and New Zealand.

"Kirsten was too strong today but I am impressed with the potential from Jury and Bennington, along with some other good young swimmers.

"This is an event that we can do well at internationally. Now it is an Olympic event, we need to attract more of our swimmers to open water swimming and begin to build on some of the talent we have."

Strong winds are also forecast for tomorrow's 5km races, starting at 9.30am.

Results:

Male, Open: Phillip Ryan (Waterhole, Auckland) 2:08.06, 1; Casey Glover (SwimZone, Wgtn) 2:14.57, 2; Daniel Ryan (Waterhole) 2:20.27, 3.

16-17 years: Jonathan Pullon (Fairfield, Waikato) 2:24.30, 1; Henry Norris (Wharenui, Chch) 2:32.59, 2.

13-15 years: Todd Howden (Ashburton) 2:44.43, 1.

Female, Open: Kirsten Cameron (Ace,Waikato) 2:29.32, 1; Alannah Jury (North Shore) 2:33.14, 2; Stephanie Bennington (Capital, Wgtn) 2:36.01, 3.

16-17 years: Jury 1, Rachel Hare (North Shore) 2:45.35, 2.

13-15 years: Bennington 1.