As we get closer to the running of the event, the Busselton Dunsborough Times will regularly be publishing a Swimmer Profile. We are reproducing these media stories here, to encourage others to participate in this years Jetty Swim.

SWIM CHAMP TO RETURN (Published 29/01/10)

by Clare Allen
Photo by Derek Pool: Busselton Jetty Swim 2009 women's champion Melissa Benson will return to defend her title.

REIGNING Busselton Jetty Swim women’s champion Melissa Benson has confirmed she will return to the bay to defend her time and title next month. Last year Benson swam the 3.6km in 43mins:37secs, just 25 seconds behind race leader Donovan Castelyn.

On Sunday, February 7, hundreds of ocean swimmers will complete a lap around the Busselton Jetty for the 15th year of the event. Benson told the Times she always enjoyed the Busselton event and the weekend activities and travelled to take part with friends. ‘‘The 2009 swim was good, the conditions have been good the last few years, with only a head wind to deal with on the way back to shore,’’ she said. ‘‘I think I did 44 minutes last year, so I would be happy with a similar time to that.’’

Training has been regular and intense for Benson who will also take part in the Open Water nationals in February. In preparation, Benson completes nine swim sessions and two gym sessions every week. A number of good times in international events in the past year will also buoy the long distance solo swimmer. Benson competed at two 10km FINA open water world cup races in Dubai in October and finished 22nd and 17th. The Perth swimmer picked training partner Heidi Gan as a tough competitor for the race, who finished third last year and only three seconds behind Benson. She said the Busselton swim was an interesting one with the jetty to swim around rather than straight swimming along the shoreline.

Castelyn has yet to confirm his entry in the February race, and all swimmers have until Wednesday, February 3 to register online. Due to ongoing repair work at the Busselton Jetty, in particular at the usual teams changeover location at Allies Landing, no teams will participate in the swim this year.

FIFTEENTH JETTY SWIM FOR WENDY (Published 22/01/10)

by Lucy Jarvis
Photo by Derek Pool: Wendy Tapper is in full training mode for the Jetty Swim next month .

HAVING taken part in every Busselton Jetty Swim since the race began in 1996, Busselton’s Wendy Tapper is looking forward to another lap around the town’s icon next month.

‘‘It gives me motivation to keep up my swimming training,’’ the local teacher said. ‘‘I always made it a priority.’’

She said each year she hoped to do a personal best, and this year she wanted to beat the one-hour, ten-minute standard she set in the swim leg of Ironman WA, though she said swimming without a wetsuit was different. Having competed in Ironman WA in December, Tapper said her swimming training hadn’t stopped and she has been doing three swims a week in preparation for the Jetty Swim on Sunday, February 7. Two of those involve drills in the pool and the third is an ocean swim around the jetty, usually with her husband Gary. After a break in December, she has also started running and cycling training again for the Half Ironman.

‘‘I love the concept of swimming around the jetty,’’ Tapper said. ‘‘It’s such a unique event.’’

Tapper will be hoping for sunny day with light winds and her advice to others thinking about tackling the sea for the 3.6km swim was ‘‘start swimming and get out there and do it— it’s very achievable.’’

JETTY SWIM INSPIRES YOUNGSTERS (Published 15/01/10)

by Gabrielle Young
Photo by Derek Pool: Lachlan Walker, 12, and Jack Greaves, 12, are looking forward to tackling the 3.6km journey around the Busselton Jetty.

UP and coming swimmers Lachlan Walker and Jack Greaves, both 12, will be participating in this year’s Busselton Jetty Swim.

The boys who are good mates from the Busselton Swim Club will both be taking part in the solo 3.6km swim.

Jack said he had been practicing with his dad and training at the swim club in preparation for the big event. ‘‘I can’t wait, but I’m a bit nervous,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not too worried about the stingers they just give you a little jump then you keep going.’’

Lachlan’s mum Louise Leyden, who is also competing, said she was very proud of her son’s participation. ‘‘I think it’s an awesome thing to do at such a young age,’’ she said.

Entries for the swim close on February 3. Competitors may enter the solo 3.6km swim around the jetty or the 1km short course swim. For further information visit www.busseltonjettyswim.org.au.