TAKEN FROM THE MERCURY, MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY

TOMMY BALLANTYNE

PICTURE TERRY HAYWOOD

Although there were not new records set at this year’s Halfway Toyota Midmar Dam at the weekend, there was no shortage of drama inthe main men’s and women’s open races which saw...Durban’s Chad Ho realise another of his life’s ambitions by winning the men’s title for the first time.

But Ho had an agonising wait after the finish of his race when he and Britain’s Daniel Fogg came into contact with one another on the slipway on the run-up to the timing pads.

Ho crossed the finish line a split second ahead of Fogg and the British open water head coach, mark Perry, lodged a protest on behalf of Fogg.

But event referee Neville Smith dismissed the protest and the result stood, with Ho declared winner in 18min39secs, Fogg second and Riaan Schoemann third.

So close was the men’s race that the first 10 swimmers were over the line within 20 seconds of Ho’s winning time, which earned him R5000.

Ho went out fast and was first through the 400 and 800m markers.

Ho and Fogg closed in on the finish line stroke for stroke...and Ho, using all his Olympic and World Cup experience was first on his feet and over the line.

Ho said afterwards: “I am so happy – I won the junior boys race back in 2004, and have been either second or third in this race ever since. At last I can tick it off from my list of things I want to achieve in my life”

Ho said he did not have a game plan for the race. “I don’t think you can plan in open-water swimming,” he said. “There are so many variables you just have to wait and see how things pan out.But I was definitely going to go flat out from the start and it paid off in the end.”