Near perfect conditions on Takapuna Beach saw over 500 competitors hit the sand and sea for Race 3 of the State Beach Series.

Coming off the back of his 3rd in the State Harbour Crossing on Sunday, Steven Kent's kilometre swim was more of a "hit out" as he again led the field home, a second ahead of Shore swimmer Jackson Cropp who swam strongly to stay with him. Despite the close race, Kent always looked in control and said "it was about just doing enough to win" after the strenuous race on Sunday. New Zealand Surf Lifesaving team member Kirsty Wannan led the women's race home for her second consecutive win.

Cam Bennetts was first home in the 5km beach run, his second win making him the leading runner of the series. Teenager Finn Mason was hot on his heels and has now finished in the top three in each of the races while half marathon runner Tara Le Grange made it 3 from 3 in the women's event.

It was a three way battle in the 5km Surf Ski Paddle as competitors battled head winds on a return leg of the course. There was no respite for the paddlers but Steven Ferguson mastered the conditions to lead the field in ahead of fellow Olympian Ben Fouhy and NZ paddler Travis Mitchell.

Results are shown below the photo gallery.

Photos by Sam Mayhew Photography.

Results: State Beach Series, Race 3

Tuesday 15th November 2011

Ocean Swim 1000/1500m – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 KENT, Steven 10m 14s 100.00
2 CROPP, Jackson 10m 15s 99.83
3 NEWCOMBE, Sean 10m 26s 98.57

Ocean Swim 1000/1500m – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 WANNAN, Kirsty 10m 51s 100.00
2 JACKSON, Anna 10m 54s 99.61
3 O'CONNOR, Johanna 10m 57s 99.31

Beach Run 5km – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 BENNETTS, Cam 16m 50s 100.00
2 MASON, Finn 17m 04s 99.03
3 RIMMER, James 17m 25s 97.62

Beach Run 5km – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 LA GRANGE, Tara 17m 41s 100.00
2 LEESON, Laura 18m 45s 95.91
3 RYAN, Lesley 20m 04s 91.02

Surf Ski Paddle 5km – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 FERGUSON, Steven 25m 08s 100.00
2 FOUHY, Ben 25m 51s 98.08
3 MITCHELL, Travis 26m 08s 97.32

Surf Ski Paddle 5km – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 DODWELL, Rachael 30m 45s 100.00
2 BUTT, Georgia 31m 58s 97.30
3 SABIN, Christine 45m 20s 71.98

Stand-Up Board Paddle 3km – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 BAXTER, Shayne 18m 31s 100.00
2 HUSTON, Troy 18m 34s 99.77
3 MCASEY, Troy 18m 36s 99.69

Stand-Up Board Paddle 3km – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 SMITH, Stacey 21m 28s 100.00
2 LYTHE, Alana 23m 00s 95.17
3 LYTHE, Mardie 25m 22s 88.19

Board Paddle 3km – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 CAMPBELL, Brady 20m 58s 100.00
2 DONNELL-BROWN, Nico 22m 08s 96.23
3 BUTT, Stephen 22m 20s 95.56

Board Paddle 3km – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 WILSON, Emma 22m 24s 100.00
2 STARK, Brydhi 25m 23s 91.19
3 SPICE, Korrin 26m 34s 87.90

Junior Beach Run 2.5km – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 HADDY, Josh 9m 43s 100.00
2 ELLIOT, Luke 9m 53s 98.78
3 SAXBY, Toby 10m 26s 95.06

Junior Beach Run 2.5km – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 HARDEN, Brieanna 10m 09s 100.00
2 BURKITT, Sarah 10m 37s 96.95
3 SAXBY, Ella 10m 56s 94.80

Junior Swim – Male

Place Name Time Points
1 LLOYD, Rhys 3m 53s 100.00
2 ELLIOT, Aidan 4m 33s 89.01
3 MCPHEAT, Adam 4m 50s 84.43

Junior Swim – Female

Place Name Time Points
1 BROOKE, Elle 3m 50s 100.00
2 WALKER, Emma 4m 13s 93.42