Smithers battles choppy seas to repeat cup victory

Choppy seas tested both the stamina and strokes of participants in the annual Hipkins Cup sea swim from Rarangi to Whites Bay on Sunday, February 2.

Despite calm seas prevailing prior to setting the course, as the race start approached so did the southerly change which brought with it some very testing conditions including white caps, a good amount of chop, and a reasonably strong breeze going against the outgoing tide.

As often happens, an hour after the race finished the water was flat calm again.

Twenty swimmers took the plunge with an age range of 14 to mid-70s, including a couple of brave souls with no wetsuits. Due to the conditions three swimmers pulled out early into the swim and returned to the start at Rarangi Beach.

From the start Chris Smithers, last year’s winner, set out strongly and rounded the first marker ahead of the field before pushing on to finish first in a time of 27 minutes 11 seconds, followed by previous race winners George Glover (28.48) and Paul Sell (31.39).

Sell was followed closely by young guns Scott Keay (32.00) and Ryan Marfell (32.06), making a tight finish for third to fifth.

In seventh place was the first female finisher, Koko Wong, with a time of 34.33.

Hannah Gilhooly took out the youngest swimmer trophy with a respectable time of 41.51 at the age of 14 while at the other end of the age spectrum Peter Colbert, creeping closer to the early 70s managed a good time after a battle with the tides, finishing in 44.06.

Sponsors included Meaters of Marlborough, and Pak ‘n Save Blenheim.