Courtesy of Doug Hughson,Tasmania, Australia.

Tara Grout and Julie Boxsell were the most recent swimmers who have completed big swims down the Derwent River in Tasmania, Australia.

They both swam 29.6 km from the Bowen Bridge to the Iron Pot lightHouse on Iron Pot Island at the mouth of the Derwent River in Storm Bay in 9 hours 53 minutes, organized by Val Kalmikovs.

Rod Watkins was the first recorded swimmer to complete this 22.3 km swim in 6 hours 51 minutes in 2022.

Hughson explains, “There have been open water swimming events of various types and distances on the Derwent River since 1803 when Hobart, the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania, was settled. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony, Hobart is Australia’s second oldest capital city after Sydney. The city is located in the state’s southeast on the estuary of the Derwent River, making it the most southern of Australia’s capital cities and its harbour forms the second-deepest natural port in the world.

Christopher Guesdon further explains, “These swims have been conducted by many swim clubs and individual organizations, namely regatta associations. The Australian Long-Distance Swimming Federation was formed in 1973 in Hobart to facilitate recognition of the new sport as this was not forthcoming from the pool orientated national body. The Foundation members and subsequent office bearers were myself as President, Deputy President Dick Campion, Secretary Sue Guesdon, and John Koorey as an Executive Member.

The Foundation changed its name in 1980 to the Australian Marathon Swimming Federation when John Koorey became the President and the Australian Championships moved to Sydney, New South Wales. The Australian Marathon Swimming Federation organized the national open water swimming championships until FINA and therefore Australian Swimming Inc. took over open water swimming in 1986.

“The history on the Derwent swims is not restricted to one course and a few swimmers.  There are numerous courses swum on this great river Derwent, across, up and down the river. There are three bridges used as starting and finishing lines.  Since 1973 when the Australian Long-Distance Swimming Federation was formed, 46 swimmers have competed in the various races in the Derwent at marathon distance. The body was run by volunteers who in fact underwrote the sanctioned events both financially and with manpower. The organizers provided accommodation, boats, watercraft and personnel.”

Hughson provided the Derwent River Big Swim results this season:

• Kate Steels (54) on January 20th in 8 hours 9 minutes
• John Curley (41) on January 21st in 8 hours 52 minutes
• Tim Donovan (41) on January 23rd in 7 hours 55 minutes
• Kayla Baxter (23) on January 24th in 9 hours 26 minutes
• Helen Conway (48) on January 28th in 8 hours 20 minutes
• Callum Hughes (19) on February 8th in 7 hours 30 minutes [shown above]
• Chen Wei Ng (44) on February 17th in 7 hours 2 minutes [shown above]
• Suzanne Heim-Bowen (65) on February 20th in 7 hours 9 minutes [shown below]
• Graham Huband on February 21st in 7 hours 56 minutes

Other swims in the Derwent this year included:

• Helen Conway (48) on January 6th in 11 hours 13 minutes, pioneering a swim from New Norfolk Bride to Bridgewater Bridge and return
• Tara Grout (52) on February 6th in 9 hours 53 minutes from Bowen Bridge to Iron Pot Lighthouse.
• Julie Boxsell (53) on February 6th in 9 hours 53 minutes from Bowen Bridge to Iron Pot Lighthouse.
• Val Kalmikovs (50) on February 23rd in 6 hours 56 minutes in the Gordon River

©​ 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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