Mid-winter swim not so chilly

Paihia's mid-winter swimmers hit (for want of a better word) the water, albeit with few outward signs of unbridled enthusiasm.

Paihia's annual mid-winter swim on Sunday went well according to swimmer Karen Markin.

"It was hard to believe it was mid-winter, with an air temperature of 20C and a water temperature of 16.4C," she said.

"Everyone had infectious smiles on their faces all afternoon -- the fun, fancily-dressed and naked swimmers, the swimmers who just wanted to be part of it all because they could, and even the serious, speedy swimmers. Or maybe that was the mulled wine that Silvie and Rose provided afterwards."

"The chaps once again dominated in the fourth year of this annual get-together for local ocean swimmers," Karen added.

"Rob Cameron retained his title for the second year, crossing the line in 3.09, followed by Chris Williams in 3.26 and Andrew Young in 3.48."

Karen Markin was the first woman home.

Thirty-seven people participated, all completing the full 300-metre sprint.

They were: John Robinson, Carol Ludbrook, Ann Robinson, Lynne Alexander, Pip Reading, Kate Lane, Fran Levins, Peter Gordon, Shane Cross, Natasha Schwarzbarte, Jacqui Watson, Sue Rogers, Andrew Young, Chris Liebert, Tim Robinson, Issy Jagger, Di Liebert, Jan Hardley, Anika West, Karen Markin, Lyn Shepston, Chris Williams, Rob Cameron, Jilly Alexander, Taco Kistemaker, Richard Baldwin, Michelle Robinson, Rose Turner, Silvie Hradecka, Sophia Warren, Trev Lochore, Paitangi Ostwick, Nikki Field, Phil Butler, Alyson Cross, Ken Boulton, and "Naked Neil", whose streak into the water served as the start signal.