The Qualicum Beach 60th Annual Ocean Mile Swim attracted just over 60 participants who braved the waters on a very hazy and smoky Sunday afternoon.
There were swimmers of various levels from age eight to 78 that covered the mile long distance that runs along the shoreline of Qualicum Beach.
The oldest swimmer was Barry Graham who is 78 years old and was awarded the Most Senior Swimmer Commissions Cup. He posted a time of 42 minutes and 12 seconds to finish fifth in the 65 years and over age category.
Elliott Nardi, 8, was one of the young swimmers who attempted this ocean mile swim for the first time. He did it to test his swimming skills and also to join his teammates with the Ravensong Breakers Swim Club.
The youngest finisher was 10-year-old Madeleine Hudon, who turned in a time of 41:12.
The overall winner of the race was Owen Brown of Port Alberni who completed the distance in 23:16 to take home the Craig Reid Trophy and the Bavaro Autobody & Glass Trophy for finishing first in the 36 to 45 years age group.
Not far behind was junior swimmer Camryn Stannard of Qualicum Beach who was just 22 seconds off the winner’s pace. She took home the District 69 Barb McDonald Alberg Trophy, the J.C. Bailey Trophy for being the top woman finisher overall and the John Nicholls Memorial Trophy for finishing first in the 13 and under category.
In the open class (wet suits) division, Norman Thibault of Nanaimo finished first in 26:41 to claim the Kwalicum Cup.
Other trophy winners were; Jakob Mbobela who was top swimmer in the 14 to 18 years age group in 24:09 to take home the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #76 trophy; Thomas Senecal , who came in first in the 26 to 35 years age group; Glenn Christensen who was top in the 46 to 55 years age group; Mark Emmett, who led in the 56 to 64 years age group, and Peter Schell, who set the pace in the 65 and over age group.
One of the highlights of the swim was Linda Guild, 64, who was the last swimmer to cross the finish line. As she emerged from the water, she received an appreciative applause from spectators that lined up the shoreline.
“It was long, but I beat my own time,” Guild commented after she crossed the finish line in one hour and a minute.
“This is the first time I’ve done this. I’ve always swam long distances but never timed before. Suddenly you turn the clock on and it’s a lot tougher. It was good. I just wished I could have kicked it up a little more in speed. I am more of a manatee than a dolphin.”