Sea swimmers relish stunning conditions

Twenty-one swimmers took the plunge in spectacular conditions for this year’s Hipkins Cup open-water challenge on Sunday, January 11.

Participants ranging in age from 15 to the early 70s while a couple of brave souls even opted to go without wetsuits.

The sea was unusually calm and crystal clear, though the predicted northwest winds made their presence felt with occasional gusts.

From the start, the race was dominated by a tight lead pack of Chris Smithers, Finn McNabb, Gus Marfell, and Jack Love, the quartet battling stroke for stroke. Things remained neck-and-neck until the second buoy, where Smithers’ experience gave him an edge as he took a direct line toward the final marker. Meanwhile, the three young guns veered off course and had to fight hard to regain lost ground. By the final turn, the pack was reunited, and Finn dug deep to surge ahead, crossing the line first in 26 minutes 9 seconds, followed closely by Gus (26.13), Jack (26.32), and Chris (26.55), the winner of the previous two events.

Not far behind was the impressive family duo of Nicola and Jodie Lovell, with Nicola claiming fifth place and the title of first female in 28:25. Hannah Gilhooly, who finished 13th, earned the youngest swimmer trophy with a solid time of 36.35 at just 15-years-of-age.

Representing the other end of the age spectrum was Peter Colbert, in his early 70s, who finished 15th, completing the course in a commendable 39.05.

Sponsors of the event were Meaters of Marlborough, Astrolabe Wines, Mitchell Sports, Spring Creek 4 Square, and Pak’nSave Blenheim.