Troyden Prinsloo raised the bar in the Telkom Virgin Active Swim Challenge Series at the Midmar Dam on Sunday when he posted an impressive 11:43 to claim victory in the 1km event. Prinsloo, South Africa's leading distance swimmer in the pool, showed great versatility in making the transition to open water swimming by claiming victory in both the 5km and 1km events.

The Swim Challenge Series has grown steadily in numbers this summer and Sunday's event was no different. With approximately 800 participants and despite the searing heat some exciting racing was on show for the capacity crowd.

The 5km event saw twenty-four athletes take to the water in the first challenge of the day. In the absence of Shaun Dias, all the interest was focused on Kenneth Smith, Byron de Waal and Prinsloo.

After 500m Prinsloo moved into the lead and was never challenged from this point. The battle for the minor placing was however a battle royale with both de Waal and Smith working hard to haul in the stylish Prinsloo, but to no avail.

Troyden claimed his maiden 5km victory of the series in a time of 1:00,58, well ahead of de Waal (1:01,59) and Smith (1:02,03).

In the female section of this race, Gabbi Bombardieri, who is fast establishing herself as South Africa's leading 5km female swimmer, was shadowed throughout the event by a determined Mia Grundlingh. Grundlingh, swimming in her first 5km race was content to let Bombardieri carry the workload and certainly looks a bright prospect for the future.

Gabbi got the touch coming into the finish in a respectable 1:05,41 while Mia was well pleased with her effort of 1:05,42.

The ladies 1km event saw the welcome return of former junior Halfway Telkom Midmar Mile winner, Nicola Stanley to competitive open water swimming after taking a couple of years off to concentrate on her studies.

Heading the pack into the first buoy was Stanley with Melanie Greyling, Cheryl Townsend and Laurie Ann Warwick-Oliver in close attendance, while Jessica Lax and Sarah English lurked.

Stanley turned on the gas coming out of the first "can" and Greyling responded but it was Townsend who edged ahead of the chasing pack and coming out of the second buoy had settled into second place and the race to the finish was on.

Both ladies headed for the finish with Stanley taking a wider line. Townsend dug deep but it was Nicola who came up the ramp first to post a time of 12,49 with Cheryl a further 10 seconds back in second position. Third place went to Melanie Greyling (13,14) when she raced up the slipway ahead of a game Warwick-Oliver (13,16) with Jessica Lax a further 16 seconds off the pace.

The men's 1km event saw the pack head off to the first buoy headed by Mark Volker with Kenneth Smith, Troyden Prinsloo, Christopher Walthew, Wesley Gilchrest, Tristan Peel and Byron de Waal in close attendance.

Smith chose the shorter line into the