Kaipara woman's long-distance butterfly triumph | Northland News | Local News in Northland

She has done it again - Dargaville swimmer Deborah Hambly, 38, has swum herself into another record by butterflying the Russell to Paihia ocean race - the first swimmer to do so.

Last month Ms Hambly was the first swimmer to complete Auckland's 2.8km Harbour Crossing Race using the butterfly stroke.

It is not favoured by distance or ocean swimmers because it is an intense and energy-burning stroke. Last Saturday's 3.3km swim, in what Ms Hambly describes as very choppy conditions, took her one hour 21 minutes.

"That's the same time as what it took me to do the shorter harbour swim, so while I haven't really trained hard I am getting faster," she said.

"It works out at about 26 minutes per km. It isn't about speed - with butterfly it is about being able to keep going. I was extra pleased with the quick time, as much as I was to finish it with lots of strength left."

She said the conditions tended to knock her sideways from time to time but she found swimming butterfly quite "elating" - saying it was like being a dolphin cutting through the waves.

She lost her partner in a car accident earlier this year. With a 2-year-old daughter, the teacher found it hard to train while struggling with grief.

This made each event even more of a challenge and was one of the reasons why she chose not to concentrate on speed.

"Peter, the son of my late partner, was there to support me both before and after last Saturday's race."

The two recent races are one of six in the State NZ Ocean Swim Series which feature swimmers from across New Zealand.

Ms Hambly intends to swim in the next race of the series the Capital Classic in Wellington in late January. She will take part in the Kumara Triathlon and swim six pool events as a New Zealand representative in the Asia Pacific Outgames in March.