OVER 50 swimmers on Sunday took on the challenge of completing the Cold Water Swim Classic which is part of the JBay Winterfest.
The 12°C water was always going to take its toll, with four swimmers having to withdraw from the event owing to hyperthermia, while 54 swimmers managed to finish one of the most extreme events in South Africa. With an air temperature of 19°C conditions on land were a stark contrast to the icy water that awaited swimmers from all over South Africa who descended upon Jeffreys Bay to take part in the Cold Water Classic.
Only three swimmers entered the costume division of the triple mile, an official Robben Island crossing qualifying swim, with Port Elizabeth veteran PJ Duffy winning the men’s section, while Pretoria’s Megan Albertyn winning the the women’s division.
A few swimmers from Uitenhage and Despatch also participated and their results are as follows:
1 Mile Cold Water Swim Females (wetsuit): 7. Zandré Kruger (Uitenhage) 33:02.4; 10. Astrid Cordier (Uitenhage) 44:19.2.
1 Mile Cold Water Swim Males (wetsuit): 2. Juan Cordier (Uitenhage) 30:31.1; 6. Murray Bailes (Uitenhage) 33:06.2; 9. Conrad Bezuidenhout (Despatch) 35:07.3.
