G’town celebrates longest night of year
Residents brave the chill for traditional dip
OPINION is divided in the City of Saints over the sanity of several shivering swimmers who stripped half naked and braved ice-cold water early yesterday morning for the annual polar plunge in a murky Grahamstown dam.
Although most of the spectators – and several swimmers – thought anyone braving the big chill was crazy, die-hard veterans vowed they would be back next year.
The brainchild of Rhodes University’s pilgrim Professor George Euvrard – who is conveniently backpacking through sunny Turkey and could not make it – the swim was started eight years ago to celebrate the passing of the longest night of the year.
“George is presently sitting on a sunny acropolis in Turkey and send his warm regards,” Rhodes computer science lecturer Richard Foss said.
He said a doctor and a psychologist were waiting 30 metres away at the finish line to treat anyone who came unstuck during the daring doggy paddle dash.
Cups of steaming hot chocolate supplied by local businessman Tim Dold were also on hand for all the swimmers and even spectators. “I am one of the sensible ones,” Dold said. “I will do the hot chocolate every year, but there is no chance I am going to swim.”
While some swimmers quipped they would rather be slapping on sunblock with Euvrard than shivering and shaking on the frosty banks of the dam, Foss quickly told them – before they could literally get cold feet – that they had to shout out “into the light” before jumping into the icy water.
“Last night was the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice has passed and we are now celebrating the movement into the light. We must provide love and light for the world,” he said before diving in.
Heavy rain the day before the annual swim seemed to have dampened enthusiasm as a relatively small crowd of school children, students, Rhodes staff and a pensioner or two made it to the dam bank for the early morning swim.
Although more than 20 people made it this year, the numbers were down on the normal 50-strong crowd that regularly pitch up to punish themselves.
This year’s numbers were, however, more than the dozen brave souls who braved the coldest swim on record two years ago.
Swim “virgin” Mickey Whitthuhn – who works as a maintenance manager at St Andrews College – said he had been inspired to take the plunge after a recent surf trip up the icy West Coast.
Towelling down after the mad dash, the ex-East Londoner told the Dispatch the water was not so bad.
“I could do this every morning,” he said – to sideways glances from shivering swimmers.
Six swimmers from Kingswood College and six from the Diocesan School for Girls also took a dip.
Arriving early and completing the swim 30 minutes before everyone else, 14-year-old Roxie Williamson and Gina Britz, 15, said it was so cold they could not feel their toes as they waded into the water.
“It felt like a bunch of needles pressing in your thighs . . . when I went under the water it felt like my head exploded,” Williamson explained.
British visitor Ellie Rous-Eyre, 19, however, quipped that the water felt like a heated pool.
“If you think I did not have enough brain cells when I accepted this challenge, then you will have to believe me that I have got none left now. “I don’t think I will ever do this again.”