Courtesy of Brenton Williams, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

The JBay Winterfest continued despite the Corona Open being placed on hold as over 50 swimmers took on the challenge of completing the Cold Water Swim Classic presented by Nicholas Melck.

The 12°C water was always going to take its toll, with four swimmers having to withdraw from the event due 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 colder water that awaited swimmers from all over South Africa who descended upon Jeffreys Bay to take part in the Cold Water Classic.

Three hardened veterans entered the skins division of the Triple Mile, an official Robben Island crossing qualifying swim. PJ Duffy won the men’s section, while Megan Albertyn won the women’s division who said, “What an awesome experience! I can’t believe I haven’t done the Cold Water Classic before – will definitely be back next year.”

Jeffreys Bay swimmer JC van Wyk won the Double Mile while Paige Black won the women’s section of the event.

12-year-old East London swimmer Mbali Vellum participated in his first cold water swim and toughed it out to complete the Double Mile. “We noticed Mbali from the safety boat after he completed his first mile loop and decided to keep an eye on him. Initially, it looked like he was really battling with the cold, but his stroke was consistent and we decided to give him every opportunity to complete his swim.

The Cold Water Swim Classic is all about challenging oneself and Mbali did exactly that and didn’t falter throughout his swim,” said race director Brenton Williams.

“The water was very very cold, but I really wanted to finish the double mile,” said Mbali. “My goggles kept leaking and I was stopping to fix them and the guys on the boat were always encouraging me to keep swimming and that I was doing well.”

Hannah Counihan from Port Elizabeth won the women’s mile while Peter Michaelides from Knysna won the men’s division, each winning a pair of Oakley sunglasses.

The Triple Mile wetsuit division was won by waterman Kevin Richards while Jenny Potts won the women’s division. Gary Albertyn won the wetsuit Double Mile and keeping it in the family, his daughter Kaitlyn won the women’s race. Michael Fairall and Suzie du Plessis won the Mile wetsuit event.

The Cold Water Classic was sponsored by Nicholas Melck, Oakley sunglasses, Marina Wharf, Newton Johnson wine, Island Tribe and Bio Plus and formed part of the annual JBay Winterfest.

1-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Female Results:
1 Hannah Counihan (16) 22:33.0
2 Joy Van Der Walt (47) 35:46.0
3 Amber-Rose Berry (10) 35:56.8
4 Michelle Mortimer (38) 36:55.0
5 Ilse Krige (58) 48:33.3

1-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Male Results:
1 Peter Michaelides (43) 99 26:25.7
2 Rolf Kickhoffel (52) 28:06.2
3 Wade Van Rensburg (43) 33:22.1
4 Ivo Vankeirsbilck (52) 33:32.3

2-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Female Results:
1 Paige T Black (15) 45:18.4

2-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Male Results:
1 J C Van Wyk (52) 48:15.3
2 Nathan Hendricks (12) 1:07:34.8
3 Craig Sampson (37) 1:10:55.8
4 Mbali Vellem Komga (12) 1:13:00.9

3-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Female Results:
1 Megan Albertyn (45) 1:12:19.7
2 Lerryn Mew (43) 1:30:44.8

3-Mile Cold Water Swim (Skins) Male Results:
1 PJ Duffy (48) 1:11:18.0

1-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Female Results:
1 Suzie Du Plessis (53) 28:02.0
2 Paula Wishart (48) 28:48.4
3 Jordan Cooper (20) 30:23.8
4 Delle Henry (61) 30:38.2
5 Agnes Nieburg (52) 31:14.0
6 Janine Van Rooyen (47) 31:29.5
7 Zandré Kruger (19) 33:02.4
8 Cheryl Gibson (50) 33:40.9
9 Lisle Matthews (44) 36:12.7
10 Astrid Cordier Uitenhage (31) 44:19.2

1-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Male Results:
1 Michael Fairall (63) 23:31.6
2 Juan Cordier (32) 30:31.1
3 Elbe Strydom (46) 31:16.8
4 Justin Leeson (32) 32:11.3
5 John Abbott (46) 32:35.8
6 Murray Bailes (36) 33:06.2
7 Jose Coelho (55) 33:48.7
8 Anthony Walsh (54) 34:09.1
9 Conrad Bezuidenhout (35) 35:07.3
10 Bernard Kapp (27) 37:03.4
11 Herman Matthews (43) 42:09.0

2-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Female Results:
1 Kaitlyn Albertyn (15) 41:13.5
2 Margie Young (44) 56:39.4
3 Susan Derbyshire (46) 1:03:45.8

2-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Male Results:
1 Gary Albertyn (49) 37:12.1
2 Slater Black (16) 39:19.0
3 Rob Smith (57) 45:19.6
4 Connor Albertyn (14) 45:22.7
5 Kenneth Pattison (53) 48:54.6
6 Mark Cooper (50) 53:28.7
7 Derek Creed (46) 58:30.3
8 Mark Handley (46) 1:05:06.6

3-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Female Results:
1 Jenny Potts (48) 1:19:45.1
2 Michelle Barnett (50) 1:34:27.8
3 Billie McNaughton (55) 1:44:01.8

3-Mile Cold Water Swim (Wetsuit) Male Results:
1 Kevin Richards (54) 1:02:11.7
2 Ralph West (57) 1:15:50.8

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