ANNUAL HENLEY TO GRANGE LONG SWIM 2013

Our two trophy winners, Riley Giersch (14) and Emily Richardson (14)

The Henley & Grange Swimming Club held its long standing annual event on Sunday 21 April 2013. The event was first held in 1917 and this year was the 96^th anniversary of that first swim.

It is normally held earlier in the year but Sunday’s date was the first available for the year without clashing with other swimming competitions but at the same time free of Surf Lifesaving Competitions so that adequate water cover could be provided.

The late April date attracted fewer entries than most years but the majority of those entrants registered to swim on the day. 

The weather was very unkind in terms of heavy rain and northerly squally wind.  SwimmingSA Referees in consultation with the Club and Henley Surf Lifesaving decided to reverse the swim direction and start from the Grange Jetty.

Officials on the Henley Jetty bore the brunt of the weather while waiting to record times and placings for the swimmers.  The usual waterproof pens and laminated sheets proved useless in the rain and they were forced to make use of modern technology.  They used the Voice Recording capability on a smart phone to record the cap numbers and times of the swimmers as they reached the Henley Jetty.

Two swimmers decided not to swim once they had arrived at the Grange Jetty and one more came ashore partway through.  The remainder made very fast times, particularly when they were nearly all younger swimmers.

The Bacchus Bar on the foreshore, Henley Square, kindly made their premises available in lieu of the Club’s tents for the finalisation of the results and the presentations.  This provided swimmers with a nice warm, sheltered area and opportunities for warm food and drinks.

In spite of the adverse weather conditions, both the Club and the swimmers were happy with the event.  Club swimmer Jade De Beer said “I really enjoy the Henley & Grange jetty to jetty swim. This was my second year participating in the event. The weather conditions were not ideal this year, but everyone seemed to give it their best." 

Age Group winners:
11-12 years Boys     1^st        Mitchell Allen             Playford Aquatics
13-14 years Boys     1^st           Riley Giersch              Playford Aquatics
11-12 years Girls      1^st        Caitlin McManus        Clovercrest Swimming Club
13-14 years Girls      1^st        Emily Richardson       Clovercrest Swimming Club
19 & over Womens   1^st        Kate Brocklehurst       Whyalla Swimming Club

Overall Winners:
Fastest Male                      1^st        Riley Giersch              22m 21s  Playford Aquatics
Fastest Female                  1^st        Emily Richardson       24m 48s  Clovercrest

Winners of the Barltrop Shield for the Club which is the first to have five swimmers across the line was Playford Aquatics represented by Riley Giersch (1^st overall), Abigail Pearson (3^rd), Mitchell Allen (9^th), Kate Giersch (10^th) and Bailey Allen (11^th).