Albany 2026: Close contests the highlight of 3km Bicentenary Swim as Max Kryachok heads off Christine Murray

More than 200 brave souls plunged into the water at Middleton Beach for the Albany Surf Life Saving Club’s Bicentenary Swim on Monday.

Racing over 400m, 1.5km or 3km, the swimmers took advantage of the good weather to celebrate the City of Albany’s year-long commemorations.

The longest distance on the card, the 3km, was hotly contested with Hale’s Max Kryachok, 14, the winner of the junior male category and quickest overall, completing the course in 40min. 39sec.

He was 5min. clear of Albany’s Zach Riddell in his age group but only 5sec. ahead of Albany’s Christine Murray, the first senior female who finished in 40:44.

Second behind Murray was Arielle Butler, in 44:19.

Competition among the senior males was fierce, with open water specialist Oliver Kuhn, the first youth home in the Albany Harbour Swim last year, covering the 3km in 43:45.

He pipped Perth’s Sam Butler by the width of his Speedos, with Butler just one second behind.

In third spot was Craig Fuller (46:32), with Ned Shepherd just adrift in fourth (46:55).

Albany’s Nicolette Tollec, the only junior female in the swim, finished in 1:00:25.

The 1.5km distance was the most popular, with Mitchell Tuckey getting home in 21:29, just 3sec. ahead of Owen Wright in the senior male category.

Lauren Robertson was the first senior female to finish in 24:50 just over 3min. in front of Sally Moir and Lisa Symmans, who couldn’t be split with times of 28:07.

In the juniors, Morrie Goodsell shared a time, and just pipped Malachy Williams in the boys’ race.

They both clocked 22:51 with the pair a minute ahead of third-placed Hugh Davison.

Clare Davison was first home for the girls, her time of 24:44 well ahead of Gracie Wood in 26:39.

The sprinters who entered the 400m couldn’t catch junior female Mali Hewett who burst home in 7:24.

Molly McGreevy pushed her close in 7:27, but the pair were a minute ahead of the best junior male, Faolan Williams, who clocked 7:40.

Coming in behind Williams were brothers Mason and Hudson Kennedy O’Donnell, with both clocking 8:23, but Mason just edged it on the photo-finish.

The first senior male was James Davison who swam 10:14 to finish ahead of Patrick Lynch in 10:23.

In the senior female category, Anna Anderson, in 12.14, was a second ahead of Wendy Thorn’s 12:15 and 7sec. to the good from third-placed Bronwen Newbury (12:22).

Race director Nick Walker said the race had played a super part in Albany’s 2026 celebrations.

“Overall it was a fantastic community event,” he said.

“We welcomed a strong local crowd and an influx of visitors so it was a fitting contribution to the bicentenary program and the start of the Binalup/Middleton Beach Festival 2026.

“It showed the growth of open-water swimming in Albany and was the culmination of a huge weekend for Albany Surf Life Saving Club.”

RESULTS

3km swim: Junior male: 1, Max Kryachok (40:39); 2, Zach Riddell (50:08), 3, Daniel Rodsjo (53:29).

Junior female: 1, Nicolette Tollec (1:00.25).

Senior male: 1, Oliver Kuhn (43:45); 2, Sam Butler (43:46); 3, Craig Fuller (46:32).

Senior female: 1, Christine Murray (40:44); 2, Arielle Butler (44:19); 3, Ellen Smith (50:31).

1.5km swim: Junior male: 1, Morrie Goodsell (22:51); 2, Malachy Williams (22:51); 3, Hugh Davison (22:59).

Junior female: 1, Clare Davison (24:44); 2, Gracie Wood (26:39); 3, Madison Shrives (28:18).

Senior male: 1, Mitchell Tuckey (21:29); 2, Owen Wright (21:32); 3, Jason Wenbourne (24:20).

Senior female: 1, Lauren Robertson (24:50); 2, Sally Moir (28:07), Lisa Symmans (28:07).

400m swim: Junior male: 1, Faolan Williams (7:40); 2, Mason Kennedy (8:23); 3, Hudson Kennedy (8:23).

Junior female: 1, Mali Hewett (7:24); 2, Molly McGreevy (7:27); 3, Mia Hall (8:16).

Senior male: 1, James Davison (10:14); 2, Patrick Lynch (10:23); 3, Daniel Stephens (11:09).

Senior female: 1, Anna Anderson (12:14); 2, Wendy Thorn (12:15); 3, Bronwen Newbury (12:22).