Bullock earns third ISF title with Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim victory

Torrance’s Ryan Bullock won his third medal at the International Surf Festival by winning the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim. Photo by Ray Vid

Torrance’s Ryan Bullock won his third medal at the International Surf Festival by winning the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim. Photo by Ray Vid

Los Angeles County Lifeguard Heidi Nelson runs up the beach at the finish of the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim wearing the timing chip anklet her father-in-law Eddie Nelson wore in last year’s race. He died shortly after the race. Photo by Beverly Gates.

Los Angeles County Lifeguard Heidi Nelson runs up the beach at the finish of the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim wearing the timing chip anklet her father-in-law Eddie Nelson wore in last year’s race. He died shortly after the race. Photo by Beverly Gates.

Capping off a weekend of medal-winning performances, 32-year-old Torrance swimmer Ryan Bullock won his third International Surf Festival title in as many days on Sunday, edging out defending champion Kevin Fink to capture the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim.

After rounding the Manhattan Beach Pier, Bullock sprinted out of the surf to post a time of 41 seconds, 18 seconds. He also claimed the title in 2014 before falling to a 7th place finish last year.

Fink, 20, of San Pedro finished at 41:53 while Palos Verdes Peninsula 18-year-old Will Abele placed third with a time of 42:20.

Bullock began the weekend swimming for the Redondo/Torrance/Cabrillo lifeguard team that won the Bud Stevenson Intracrew competition Friday night. He continued his winning ways the following night, helping the LA County-Southern team capture its third consecutive Judge Taplin Medley Relay championship.

Stephanie Peacock, 24, of Rancho Santa Margarita was the first woman to cross the finish line. Her time of 42:45 was fourth best overall.

Defending women’s champion Kelsey Cumming, 23, of El Segundo finished second at 44:12 and 2014 champion Mallory Mead, 30, of Los Angeles placed third at 45:18.

This year’s Dwight Crum Swim was dedicated to Eddie Nelson who died, at age 76, from a heart suffered at the finish of last year’s race.

Nelson’s son Erik served as starter for the swim heats and his wife, Heidi, swam the race wearing Eddie’s timing chip anklet from last year. Many of the swimmers also sported temporary tattoos that read “Live like Eddie.”

“It was really an honor to do the race this year in our ‘Pop Pop’s’ memory,” Heidi said.

Results are available at surffestival.org.

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