Fish Hoek Mile swim breaks records with 250 participants for charity

A record 250 swimmers took part in the fundraising Fish Hoek Mile swim on Sunday, September 14.

According to race organiser Scott Tait, from Swim Cape Town, the race was scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 13, but due to the strong southeaster, it was moved to Sunday.

Mr Tait said the annual fund-raising event supports the Fish Hoek Lifesaving Club, while the club also ran a blanket and hygiene product drive that swimmers supported generously.

“The collected items on the day would be donated to local charities like the Haven Night Shelter in Kalk Bay and Happy Valley Home in Simon's Town,” he said.

The Fish Hoek Mile took place in great swim conditions where swimmers lined up from Clovelly Beach and would finish in front of the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. 

A strong field of past Fish Hoek Mile winners, national lifesavers, and rising juniors from Fish Hoek Surf set off in the racing batch at Clovelly at 8.30am. Five minutes later, the ‘adventure batch’ of non-racing swimmers took to the water.

The swim was won by former national swimmer Simon Haddon, who finished in a time of 19 minutes 56 seconds, while the runner-up was Sam Mocke, who finished as the first junior.

Amica De Jager, who was last year’s winner in the female category, won again this year in a time of 20 minutes and 11 seconds, while 13 year old Sarah Mocke claimed the female junior title.