Conditions weren’t inviting before the Blue September swim on Sunday. A brisk breeze, snow on the hills and choppy water, the usual teeth-chattering nerves and 44 swimmers ready to face the starter.
It was all in a good cause, raising money to support those who suffer from prostate cancer.
In the event, it wasn’t too bad. Estimates of the temperature fell at around 11 or 12 degrees.
The first 50 metres felt pretty cold, but then either body temperature rose or numbness set in.
The tide washed the swimmers towards the first two markers and by the time the third was rounded, the body was in the groove for the chug back to the finish against the tide.
The occasional swimmer missed the final turn buoy, but it was all good clean fun and no one was very worried.
Last summer’s top female Lilly Claridge was first out of the water, followed by Matt Hansen (Pictured above having a little stretch).
The Linyard family had their usual dominance with three of them in the top six finishers, led by Nia in third place.
Hamish Neill may be getting old, but he took fourth place. Hamish recently raced more than 20km around Great Keppel Island in Australia in the company of Christina Harris, who finished in seventh today.
Hamish will be the keynote speaker, speaking about this experience at the club’s AGM on Wednesday October 9. Details here.
Here are the full results from the Blue September swim.
The club has recently acquired a new camera. Wendy Healey was behind the lens today. Here are her photos.https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBKk6v