Grocott's Mail
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Thursday, May 22
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Grocott's Mail
    • NEWS
      • Courts & Crime
      • Features
      • Politics
      • People
      • Health & Well-being
    • SPORT
      • News
      • Results
      • Sports Diary
      • Club Contacts
      • Columns
      • Sport Galleries
      • Sport Videos
    • OPINION
      • Election Connection
      • Makana Voices
      • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
      • Newtown… Old Eyes
      • Incisive View
      • Your Say
    • ARTSLIFE
      • Cue
        • Cue Archives
      • Makana Sharp!
      • Visual Art
      • Literature
      • Food
      • Festivals
      • Community Arts
      • Going Places
    • OUR TOWN
      • What’s on
      • Spiritual
      • Emergency & Well-being
      • Covid-19
      • Safety
      • Civic
      • Municipality
      • Weather
      • Properties
        • Grahamstown Properties
      • Your Town, Our Town
    • OUTSIDE
      • Enviro News
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Science
      • Conservation
      • Motoring
      • Pets/Animals
    • ECONOMIX
      • Business News
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Personal Finance
    • EDUCATION
      • Education NEWS
      • Education OUR TOWN
      • Education INFO
    • EDITORIAL
    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»ARTS & LIFE»Dam that was cold – Polar Plunge #16
    ARTS & LIFE

    Dam that was cold – Polar Plunge #16

    Sue MaclennanBy Sue MaclennanJune 22, 2019Updated:June 24, 20191 Comment3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    And they’re off! Around 20 intrepid swimmers took part in this year’s midwinter Polar Plunge at Grey Dam – a day later than usual, Saturday 22 June. Photo: Sue Maclennan

    Around 20 brave souls brought their bodies to Grey Dam on Saturday 22 June for the  16th annual Polar Plunge – Makhanda’s (Grahamstown’s) traditional midwinter swim.

    The words, “into the light” coming at the end of some words of inspiration from George Euvrard set the swimmers off. With Eastcape Pools owner Emile Fox on Thursday measuring temperatures of 8.4C near the edge and 6.9C three metres in, most swam the distance of around 30 metres as quickly as they could.

    Except for Hobbiton’s Josh Paton who, as has become a Polar Plunge tradition, made a detour at the weir to perform an impressive backward fall into the water, and cruised slowly to the finish, cap on head, to finish a solid last.

    Lisl Griffioen was pleased to have completed her 10th Polar Plunge. Others, whether grimacing with cold or just delighted to be out, were grinning ear to ear as they covered up and got a complimentary mug of hot chocolate from the PG Glass team.

    It’s the 16th year, too, of the PG Cares Winter Warmth campaign, and spectators and participants were encouraged to bring along a warm blanket or item of clothing for PG Glass’s collection and distribution programme.

    The event was held a day later than the Winter Solstice, the shortest of the year.

    “It was close to a Saturday, so we thought we’d do it then so more people could take part,” Euvrard said. “But I think in future we’ll just stick to the 21st.”

    Members of the public are invited to drop off blankets and warm clothing at PG Glass if you missed the dam-side collection.

    SEE WHO WAS THERE!

    IMG_6979_WEB
    IMG_6979_WEB
    IMG_6978_WEB
    IMG_6978_WEB
    IMG_6976_WEB
    IMG_6976_WEB
    IMG_6974_WEB
    IMG_6974_WEB
    IMG_6973_WEB
    IMG_6973_WEB
    IMG_6972_WEB
    IMG_6972_WEB
    IMG_6967_WEB
    IMG_6967_WEB
    IMG_6965_WEB
    IMG_6965_WEB
    IMG_6964_WEB
    IMG_6964_WEB
    IMG_6960_WEB
    IMG_6960_WEB
    IMG_6948_nice dive_WEB
    IMG_6948_nice dive_WEB
    IMG_6946_This_WEB
    IMG_6946_This_WEB

    NAMES AND FACES:
    * Participants at the edge of Grey Dam a little after 7.30am on 22 June while organiser George Euvrard briefs them about the Polar Plunge.
    * And they’re off! Around 20 intrepid swimmers took part in this year’s midwinter Polar Plunge at Grey Dam – a day later than usual, Saturday 22 June.
    * First out of the waater are Richard Foss (who has only missed one Polar Plunge) and Kjetil Torp, doing it for the first time.
    * Josh Paton, cap in hand, does his signature jump from the weir, followed by a long, slow swim to come out of the water last, wearing his cap.
    * Family matter: the Comley family – Andrea, Ivan, Marelize and Liezel – all did the swim.
    * Kyle Marais and Sam van Heerden.
    * Lisl Griffioen did her 10th Polar Plunge. Doing their best to get warm again afterwards are fellow swimmers Jeremy Baxter, Olaf Weyl and Olivia Weyl.
    * Josie Field was proud to do the Polar Plunge. With her  here is mom Pippa Field.
    * Mary Kruiskamp and Josh Paton.
    * The PG Glass team who were there to hand out hot chocolate and collect warm garments and blankets for the PG Cares Winter Warmth campaign – like the Polar Plunge, also  in its 16th year.

    Previous ArticleBenefits of good health care exceed the costs
    Next Article Citizens take action on landfill non-compliance
    Sue Maclennan
    • Twitter

    Local journalism

    Comments are closed.

    Code of Ethics and Conduct
    GROCOTT’S SUBSCRIPTION
    RMR
    Listen to RMR


    Humans of Makhanda

    Humans of Makhanda

    Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

    © 2025 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.