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Warmest May in over 100 years.

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What could the warmest May

in over 100 years bring to the motley

group of ocean swimmers at Mollymook?

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A rare feat:

Almost unheard of, a baby born to one of the Mollymook ocean swimmers.

“But they are all too old I can hear you saying”!

Well the young couple from the gulf gave birth yesterday Thursday May 22 to a beautiful baby girl Coco.

To Michelle and Andrew, heartiest congratulations from the Mollymook Ocean swimmers. You have done us proud. (For many of the swimmers, the joy experienced at the birth of a child is a distant memory).

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More news:

The Pt Stephens trip: Young Louise found last weekends issues regarding the “elite” groups trip to Pt Stephens quiet amusing. So Louise contributed pic 4 below on row 1.

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Warm weather during May 2014. Dick Morath took this pic below of the stunning sunset at Bannisters Headland with Pigeon House Mountain in the background.

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Triumphant Return: Dougie is back with us after his recent surgery.

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Grant Kenny in Mollymook: Thanks to Jan, she was beyond herself; here in Mollymook of all places, the legendary iron-man Grant Kenny swimming to the end and return.

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Port Stephens Triathlon attended by the Mollymook “Glampers”

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Port Stephens Triathlon

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Mollymook swimmers were well represented at the weekends triathlon series finale for 2013-2014 season held at Port Stephens in glorious weather.

Some of the outstanding results included: Robert Scott 9th in the SUP and a win in the Elite Energy “enticer” triathlon which also gave him the series win. Bobby White won silver for the series in the 60 to 65 age group. Bruce Argent-Smith won his age group race, ( 65-70) in the sprint and finished third in the series, While “young” John Louth competing in his first triathlon, finished fifth in the sprint, 60 to 65 group. All were well supported by the Mollymook contingent that inc. Bruce, Allie, Jo, Ross, John, Jacqui, Bill, Bianca , Bob and Lyn with daughter Nikita, who all made the arduous journey up the coast to help their heroes celebrate their results.

The highlight of the weekend (according to roving reporter & photographer Allie) was the “seniors” being asked to keep the noise down by young neighbours trying to get a good night’s sleep before their triathlon.

< < Medal winners: (L to R) Bob, Rob, Bruce and John.

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers – Mollymook Beach

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Mollymook ocean swimmers,Mollymook ocean swimming,Mollymook beach,Mollymook ocean swim classic

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

Mollymook Beach

Heather a Mollymook ocean swimmer taking time out to enjoy the moment. Shear peace and tranquillity on this idyllic morning in the ocean at Mollymook beach in a balmy 23c with birds flying above and the sun beginning to appear from behind the clouds. 
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The Mollymook ocean swimmers are not an organised group. They are local individuals who are occasionally joined by visitors to the area who enjoy Mollymook ocean swimming each morning. They meet at the Mollymook Surf Club – 6.45 am week days & 7.00 am – weekends. There is no water safety,  each person chooses individually whether or not to swim in the prevailing conditions and if so the distance they swim and understand they swim at their own risk.
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Follow this link to all recent Mollymook Ocean Swimmers News   
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Destination Mollymook Milton Ulladulla

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Dolphin showtime – May 8, 2014

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‘Dolphin Show-time’- May 8

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

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A dark grey morning greeted the swimmers which didn’t lend itself well for taking photo’s. Nonetheless the young reporter was quickly summons from the gym when a pod of dolphins arrived.

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A little like the fisherman telling you about the big one that got away. Where were you? you should have seen this dolphin clear out of the water! The young reporter ran to his car to get hold of his camera, he was welcomed back, “where have you been” they’re gone!

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Once again when there is some fun to be had in the surf the boys ask; where is John?

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‘Surfs Up’ – Mollymook Ocean Swimmers – May 7, 2014

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‘Surfs Up’- May 7

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

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The surf was up overnight high tides and a big swell running which made ocean swimming a little daunting. However with a beautiful sunrise as a back drop, the intrepid group took on the challenge.

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With a powerful shore break to navigate a few ventured out to be met by some occasional big sets breaking off flat rock.

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Once again when there is some fun to be had in the surf the boys ask; where is John?

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Mollymook Body Surfing – May 6, 2014

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Body surfing,

the order of the day

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The surf had dropped off overnight so we were restricted to some body surfing.

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Not to be out done by the boys, Issi also got into some body surfing after the swim to the reef.

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Once again when there is some fun to be had in the surf the boys ask; where is John today?

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers – April 2014

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers – April 2014

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Issi celebrates her 70th birthday.

Issi very photogenic, looking her radiant best in her red outfit reminiscent of the Duchess of Cambridge in her favourite red colour dress. The bedazzled young reporter asked Issi her secret for looking so good. Issi said “plenty of exercise (swimming), eat healthy, no smoking and only drink in moderation” As she uttered the latter words the elderly affluent onlookers began to disperse.

The inquisitive young reporter asked Issi “was she a good looker when young?” Issi replied in the affirmative: “Eddie always told me I was”.

Besides Issi’s birthday, Kath also had a birthday in April. Once again the timid young reporter went where angels fear to tread and asked Kath her age, (didn’t believe her answer).

All this activity whilst Mollymook enjoyed some amazing weather, especially over the Easter break with warm water and an amazing surf running.

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2014 – Mollymook Ocean Swimmers brave big seas , Easter Sat.

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers,Mollymook,ocean,swim,swimmers

 

 

Mark Ruffo leaves a trail as he emerges out of this barrel above:

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers brave big seas , Easter Saturday

Easter 2014. Mollymook turned on some awesome surfs, day after day. A few swimmers braved the conditions to swim out and take a few images at Kamikaze and Golfie reef breaks. What was so incredible as we sat out the back taking some images and talking to surfers young and old surfing was the fact that there were two 12 year old kids and another just 14 also mixing it with the older more experienced surfers on the dangerous Kamikaze Reef Break.

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More images follow:

 

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers, an eventful morning – March 2014

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers, 

an eventful morning – March 2014

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The morning began with swimmers (nearing the creek) ordered out of the water by Colonel Brian on his surf board after sighting a shark some 30 odd metres away. Dougie thought Brian said ‘park’ and he began to argue that he didn’t want to go to the park. Brian prevailed as Dougie saw all the others head in, so he reluctantly followed, after protesting vigorously.

In front of the surf club another drama was beginning to unfold. One of the board riders (Louise) got dumped. She later called it a rogue wave. After waiting for her to come up the beach a little dazed and with a bit of a bruise, they got a splint and laid her down. There was no mouth to mouth expertise among the ocean swimmers available on this particular morning. (With a sigh of relief, Louise muttered, if I need mouth to mouth then its only to be from a female)  

It was a frantic morning, Issi kept asking who saw the shark first, Ken was busy taking photos, Jan called on her experience (working at Sarah Clayton’s nursing home for the elderly) to comfort Louise, John had trouble getting a key to fit the 1st Aid door. Among all this confusion, finally the ambulance arrived and whisked Louise off to Milton Hospital.

Continue for images.

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Mollymook Senior’s Bus Trip to Shellharbour Ocean Swim

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Mollymook Senior’s Bus Trip to Shellharbour Ocean Swim

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On a grey overcast morning, the senior citizens from Mollymook gathered at the surf club to be picked up by the local bus and taken for a days outing.

A happy group, they posed for their photo’s to be taken before setting off on their bus trip to Shellharbour to watch the ocean swimmers. They were filled with excitement and anticipation. 

Their trip would take them through the village of Wandandian. Whilst Wandandian was only 1/2 hour into their trip, the understanding bus driver (Bruce) knew toilet stops would often be the order of the day. Here they were able to talk to the local residents who explained that the name of their village ‘Wandandian’ meant “home to lost lovers”. The seniors minds went immediately back to their youth. Those halcyon days of seemingly endless sunny days of youth and romance. Their imagination began to run wild as they inquired more about the area. The local’s went on to explain that the  ‘Wandandian area’ was not over populated and retained a rural atmosphere with hobby farms and fruit orchards. It was an area that would lend itself nicely to a retirement village. Utopia! This could be the perfect place for our retirement ….

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2003 – EXPONENTIAL GROWTH – Mollymook Ocean Swim Classic

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH – 2003

  • Inaugural Mollymook Ocean Swim Classic takes place April 2003
  • 25 locals competed in the Mollymook Ocean Swim Classic.
  • Mollymook represented at International Ocean Swim Race ‘Rossi Rossi’ in Vanuatu. (See following post)
  • Mollymook Swimmers compete in Wedding Cake Island Ocean Swim. (See following post)
  • Claire Payne competes in the Manhattan Island marathon swim race. (See following post)

 

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2003 Rossi Rossi – Vanuatu – International Swim

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Mollymook represented at International Ocean Swim Race in Vanuatu.
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Touring uniform: At the Mollymook Ocean Classic, Mrs Sparkle represented the gracious group of local swimmers and presented Graeme with his touring uniform, which was a swim cap.
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The Rossi to Rossi swim was called the “2nd Inaugural”, because someone forgot to change the previous years artwork on the t-shirts. Oceanswim reported: the swim was in the harbour of Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, which offered as near to perfect conditions as you could ever expect in open water. It was like swimming in a pool. The water was mirror smooth; the current almost imperceptible; there was no swell, chop, breeze, and hardly any pack to speak of, Perfect conditions! The Rossi swim started at 7 am, headed through the harbour to the south, then around Iririki Island, past where the cruise ships call in, and across a reef, and back to the harbour at Rossi, a 3.2 km swim all before breakfast. Graeme, Mollymook’s representative finished 9th out of 51 finishers and was 2nd in his age category.
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2003 Coogee “Wedding Cake” Island Swim

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Mollymook Swimmers compete in ‘Wedding Cake’ Island Ocean Swim – 2003
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The trip: A small contingent of 4 leave early in the morning to compete in the Wedding Cake Island swim at Coogee. The group comprised the original 3 ‘fore-mothers’ Jan, Simone and Kim accompanied by the young reporter. The latter who had had a sheltered up-bringing became exposed to 3 very worldly ladies who played the loudest most appalling music throughout the trip and they spoke non stop for the whole trip at 10 or more decibels above the loud music.
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The “Express Glass Island Challenge” race results: 1st was Grant Cleland in a time of 28:46.8 with Josh Santacaterin only 2 seconds behind in 2nd place for the 2 km swim.
Mollymook representatives followed with the young reporter in 227th place (badly distressed following the arduous trip up), Simone placed 475, Jan placed 524 arriving at the finish line just as the presentation finished.
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The wash up: a) Noticed that Kim was not listed in the official placings. (b) Complaints were aired of nobbling taking place during the race. (c) Conditions were bumpy and very choppy out beyond the Island.

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Post race activities: The young reporter was not one for frequenting hotels and was taken back a little when the girls advise we were off to the Coogee Bay Hotel for lunch. Later that afternoon the girls advised our next activity was a “skinny dip” at a popular bay near Clovelly. On arrival he observed a lot of people in the bay, some were snorkeling and others diving. To the young reporters relief, they were fully clad with swim wear. The trip home was quiet subdued.

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2003 Manhatton Island Marathon Swim

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Claire Payne competes in the Manhattan Island marathon Swim.
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Adopted Mollymook swimmer concludes a momentous year competing in the 2003 Manhattan Marathon. Unfortunately due to poor water quality after heavy rain in New York City the official marathon was cancelled but the field of swimmers elected to swim anyway.

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The following is Clare’s personal account which became an immense personal battle for 8 hours 35 minutes, from start to finish.

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1:20 am. Saturday 14th June 2003 and I’m already awake. Today is the day of the race. I can’t sleep.
4:00am. The alarm goes off.
4:30 am. Leave for North Cove.
4:50 am. Swim start gets moved to North Cove so we head there. We are all together at North Cove.

Race is officially cancelled. But the swimmers have chosen to compete anyway. I feel some relief.

Fosters and the media begin to film and interview me. I have no choice but to keep it together. My support crew load onto the boat. I am the last to jump off the boat and enter the water.

I dive in. We start. It’s cold. The cold starts to affect my body. My left hand goes numb. My fingers are spread out. Especially my little one. My hands are still working. My right hand is starting to go and my left foot is numb. I am ok with it.

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Destination Mollymook Milton Ulladulla

Continue to read Clare’s personal account, courtesy of Oceanswims.com

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The formative years – 1996

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1996 – Mollymook Ocean Swimmers – the formative years

The Milton pool was a ‘beginning’ for the ocean swim group. It was due to close at the end of summer (March 1996), Jan Humphries & Simone Daley asked swim instructor (Whale rider) John Smeeth where to now? Mollymook Beach was the obvious choice! As time went on the fledgling group grew slowly. Kim Wilson, later Graeme Wolfenden, then Mark Burcher, Sean Pitcock originally meeting on a Sunday. Later Jan, Simone and Kim began swimming mid week.

<< The three original mid week swimmers; Jan, Kim and Simone.

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