Whanganui River Bridge to Bridge swim looms

Evergreen Tony Fantham will compete in his 11th Bridge to Bridge swim at 78 this Saturday. Photo / Bevan Conley

Organisers of the annual Wanganui Multisport and Triathlon Club's Bridge to Bridge Swim are anticipating a traditional turnout with most entries expected on the day.

Club president Jimmy Hildreth said he would be happy with 40 or 50 swimmers competing in the 3.2km or 1km swim down the Whanganui River to the Union Boat Club from the Collegiate Rowing Club shed start.

"Traditionally entries come flowing in on the day, so it's hard to say how many will compete at this stage," Hildreth said.

"I'll be happy with 40 or 50 and I'm not even sure if last year's winner Craig Honeyfield is returning to town to defend his title."

There are age divisions and wetsuit-on and wetsuit-off grades with the eldest male and female likely to be locals.

The evergreen Tony Fantham will contest his 11th swim at 78, while Margie Chiet is also a regular aged 69 this year.

Fantham has won the oldest male division six times, while Chiet the female section just four.

"In the old days there was only an oldest swimmer division and I won it most times because I was older than Margie, so I decided to donate a female trophy and she has now won it four times," Fantham said.

"It was one of my old boxing trophies and I call it Margie's cup now."

Chiet's story is one of courage and bravery.

She has competed despite one hip operations, two knee replacements and two shoulder operations that forced her to virtually one-armed last season.

The event started in the 1930 and had a 29-year hiatus between 1967 and 1996 when it was relaunched. There are now seven trophies up for grabs between and age group and wetsuit/non-wetsuit divisions.