Browsed by
Author: Vito Mure

Winter Solstice Swim
Winter Solstice Swim

Winter Solstice Swim

In my life the winter solstice in Melbourne has never meant anything significant to me at all……until this year. This time the shortest day of the year arrives with the longest and most painful preparation completed.

As a seasoned ocean swimmer a 1.2 km swim is like a jog in the park, however this one adds some mad twists:
a) 11.5 degrees in the water
b) after darkness has fallen
c) without a toasty wetsuit

These are the ingredients that got some Brunswick boys (Anthony Ferguson, Paul Turner, Duncan Howard and myself) closer to finding Dory. Not wearing a wetsuit in such cold could be likened to a reptile sheding it’s skin and where the sensitive cold sensations turn into a tingling burn.

Sunday 19,June 2016….

A dark cloudless winter night in St Kilda and a group of chill seekers squawking like penguins have gathered and are ready to take the icy plunge. The plan is to firstly survive this cold swim by conquering all the associated fears of what may be lurking in the dark. Then secondly, in the process of navigating the shimering course, absorb the unique experience possibly only experienced by others that had had a ticket on the Titanic.

After meeting up with the boys we had the added privelege of Duncan’s children and my daughter greeting us to wish us all the best.

The time arrived for us to submerge and gasp as the chest constricts due to the initial shock.
Before long it was evident that staying together was not a viable option so it was all about getting into a rhythm and letting the training take over. The pink latterns on the marker poles did the trick and navigation was easy. At one point I was a bit concerned about how much the cold was hurting but I kept thinking of that spa waiting at the finish.

I checked my watch as I stood up in the shallows and 24 minutes had lapsed. Sue Cox appeared out of shadows and kindly took the group photo and before I knew it she had vanished back into the night. Thanks Sue!

The ultimate reward, better than any medal, was a spot in the spa. The tingling feeling as the cold is flushing out of your body and avoiding the usual violent shaking and shivering is better than you know what.

At the end of the evening after the presentation of the certificates and special ancouragement award, I too felt like a winner for having completed the challenge safe and sound with my Beluga buddies. Thanks to Anthony for the encouragement.

Needless to say there is another much more beloved winter swim around the corner for the Brunswick Belugas. Yes, the shivering winter pier to pub at Lorne and perhaps without a wetsuit for some.

MSA Nationals 2016 – Day 1

MSA Nationals 2016 – Day 1

MSAC
The glass surface of the MSAC competition pool before the ripples began … Vito Muré already at work on his report.

The first day of the well anticipated Masters  Swimming Australia 2016 National Championships has been completed. Here are a few phrases to describe the day. Let me set the scene by adapting a famous movie line.
“I love the the smell of chlorine in the morning … smells like … victory.”

Well this was so true for some on a personal level as they improved on and set new club records.

The Brunswick Belugas gathered at the usual vantage point at MSAC with our banner on display. Apon our arrival meet and greet pleasantries were exchanged before getting down to business because the events were soon marshalled.

There was brief but fabulous morning interlude where the opening ceremony unfolded. Our president Raoul Mulder was the flag bearer for the Belugas with a long procession of other australian club representatives following behind.

2016-04-21_21.46.15
The Belugas front and centre at the flag-bearing ceremony.

After they all  finished parading around the main pool they were then joined by colourful dancing girls and boys with top hats and tails to the tunes of advance Australia fair and the Peter Allen classic “I go to Rio”. I could not help thinking that it was a very tasteful and appropriate performance with just a hint of gala. Hats off to MSA.

IMG_8238IMG_9001

Back to business with nerves to calm and questions to answer.
Was there pain? Yes!
Was there joy? Yes!
Were there regrets? NEVER.

Just as a teaser, the names of these Belugas performed and hit our record charts (full details to will be broadcast on the Brunswick Belugas website in due course).

Sue Cox
400 IM: Club Record set and Personal Best achieved
100 Breast: Club Record set
50 Back: Club Record set

Paul Turner
400 IM: Club Record set and Personal Best achieved
100 Free: Personal Best achieved

Mike Whitburn
100 Free: Club Record set and Personal Best achieved

Raoul Mulder
100 Free: Club Record set and Personal Best achieved
100 Breast: Club Record set
50 Back: Club Record set

Craig Humann
100 Free: Personal Best achieved
100 Breast: Club Record set and Personal Best achieved

Alexandra Cateriano
100 free: Club record set
100 Breast: Club Record set

Vaughan McDonald
100 Free: Club Record set

Unfortunately we were not able to qualify for the mixed relays due to an incorrect 50/50 team balance of male and female competitors. We enjoyed the swim regardless.

Again I would like to say another well done by all and I love the fact that such a small club can have such a big presence and impact.

PS Don’t forget to submit your raffle tickets as Mike and I picked up some prizes.

FullSizeRender
The Belugas walked away with two of the three raffle prizes on offer on Day 1.
Cerberus Swim Classic 2016

Cerberus Swim Classic 2016

Did you know? Cerberus is the watchdog of Hell with Hades as his master. The three heads relate to the threefold symbol of the baser forces of life. They represent the past, the present and the time yet to come.  Cerberus patrolled the river Styx, where he had the task of eating any mortals (Brunswick Belugas) who attempted to enter, and any spirits who attempted to escape.

12733425_966806433402470_6235824600185334163_n
The challenge … swim around the famous wreck as fast as you can …

On that note I am relieved to report the legendary Cerberus was busy devouring baddies along the river Yarra on our swim day. However the rusty steel naval version was  present as usual resting just off shore after having seen better days.

In the morning the weather was pleasantly mild and the view down to the half moon beach revealed a calm bay. Today there would be the usual suspects swimming without wetsuits in the 2.5km swim namely Anthony F, Paul T and me(Vito).

12715659_966804930069287_792174654035476186_n
They shun neoprene … the three ‘nudes’

The results show a very close time recorded which came down to a dash across the line(before me) for a rather excited Paul T, rightly so after all the friendly trash talk. Also I met my friend Neil from Darwin again which brings back great memories of the Turkey swimtrek holiday.

The 1.2km swim saw our sprinters front up to near perfect race conditions. These Beluga contestants could be described as eager, determined and primed. The place gets and ranking certainly show their fitness and resilience time and time again. Check out the results! The participation and personal achievements are very important so lets swim on Belugas.

12717336_966803056736141_2650717412547896781_nAgain a lovely day was had by all and the meet and greet along with the colourful atmosphere made the day memorable.  Thanks to Anthony for collating the results!

Cerberus 2.5km swim Results
Category Name Category Place Time
Male 40-49 Anthony Ferguson 26/41 45'14 *no wetsuit
Male 40-49 Paul Turner 34/41 50'33 *no wetsuit
Male 50-59 Vito Muré 37/47 50'39 *no wetsuit
Cerberus 1.2km swim Results
Category Name Category Place Time
Female 30-39 Alexandra Cateriano 8/35 21'22
Female 40-49 Sue Cox 3/43 20'10
Female 40-49 Doris Brown 27/43 28'27
Female 60-69 Sue Muir 9/16 28'34
Male 40-49 Vaughan McDonald 9/57 19'31
Male 50-59 Anthony Purcell 3/46 17'11
Queenscliff Blue Water Challenge 2016

Queenscliff Blue Water Challenge 2016

What a glorious mild Saturday to head off to the Bellarine Peninsula to do another open water swim. At Queenscliff the anticipation is always there with all the crowd hype and the cannon blast start sending shock waves to fire up your competitive surge.

start

The fun all starts at the registration tent to meet the fellow Belugas and scan for your adversaries. The shirt fits fine so off we go to the coffee shop for the social spark to ignite the morning.

Tactical strategies for the swim are discussed and all the excuses under the sun made by others as to why it will be a challenge to pull out their best (perhaps these are tactics too).  However it is also a way to secure the plans for the rest of the day. The obligatory nervous relief visits are part of the ritual for some more than others and the scene is set.

Near the water all the buzz is about the chop and the currents neither of which were deemed unfamiliar. Now for a select few there was a pact made to lose the suits and get the full feel of the water.

4non-wetsuit
For once, Paul Turner has some company in the non-wetsuit brigade.

I must say the experience could be called liberating but the swim times might not. Perhaps in the future some of the other Belugas might join the purists and take the non wetsuit plunge too.

As usual the intra-club rivalry meant that the precious seconds gave bragging rites and also meant there were more close calls to come in the future. Enjoyment is the ultimate goal and there seems to have been plenty.

I will not name names but the performances by those concerned who earned place gets makes me proud to belong to a pod of Belugas and rightfully our competitive presence noted.

belugas

Once the swimming was completed the best of all was yet to come with a delicious lunch planned at Jaye’s family beach house. Just as it was last year, the table was invitingly  set for our arrival with places for all and flowers too. The food contribution by everyone was great and it was respectfully devoured with the accompaniment of some nice wine and coffee. Thank you to Jaye and her generous grandparents.

I would like to wrap up the report with thanks for a great day to everyone. What a wonderful sport. Results below, with a big thank you to Anthony for compiling.

Queenscliff 1.2km swim Results
Category Name Category Place Time
Female 18-29 Jaye Dowling 2/23 17'04.5
Female 30-39 Alexandra Cateriano 6/25 17'25.2
Female 40-49 Sue Cox 3/37 16'14.5
Female 50-59 Maureen Weir 33/61 22'25.6
Female 60-69 Sue Muir 12/23 22'05.6
Female 60-69 Kate Mortensen 20/23 30'43.9
Male 40-49 Anthony Ferguson 25/67 17'48.2 *no wetsuit
Male 40-49 Raoul Mulder 26/67 17'48.4 *no wetsuit
Male 40-49 Paul Turner 48/67 20'41.2 *no wetsuit
Male 50-59 Peter Keogh 29/91 17'30.3 *no wetsuit
Male 55-59 Vito Muré 61/91 20'38.2 *no wetsuit
Male 60-69 Wayne Mortensen 25/58 19'34.5
Short Course Nationals 2015

Short Course Nationals 2015

The day finally arrived to face up to all the chest beating and speculation of a special swimming performance by Anthony Ferguson and myself – we flew to Hobart to represent the Brunswick Belugas at the 2015 MSA National Championships.

The morning in Melbourne was damp and cool, good preparation for the Tasmanian climate; the flight across Bass Straight was quick to say the least; we must have had a tail wind.

After a 20 minute bus trip we found ourselves doing some warm up laps at the Hobart Aquatic Centre to get accustomed to the 25 metre pool set up. The atmosphere was great with everyone happy to be doing the sport they loved. Shortly after arriving we met a couple of familiar Melbourne swimmers and also chatted with some friendly Sydney competitors throughout the day.

hobart-pool
The Belugas’ pride on pool deck at the Hobart Aquatic Centre

I was in an earlier heat to Anthony who unknowingly did everything to transfer his anxieties to me. Needless to say all the focus and contemplation allowed me hit the mark with a time of 13 min 15 secs.  Anthony was three heats after me and as anxious as ever. After watching so many previous heats it was obvious that a steady approach was required to help maintain technique to get the best result – Anthony did exactly this and achieved a respectable time of 11 min 38 secs. 

After our swim the time arrived to find a local pub and celebrate our triumph. We happened on The Hope and Anchor, the oldest pub in Australia. It was certainly enjoyable to be able to look back on our performance over a couple of pints. The next important thing was to get some food because we unfortunately missed lunch. We found a nice seafood restaurant by the water’s edge called “Mures” (no connection to me).

hobart-pub
Enjoying a well-deserved Guinness at the Hobart Hope and Anchor



After some sightseeing of quaint little Hobart, which finally involved dodging peak hour traffic and a trip to another pub (the Brunswick Hotel), we caught a cab back to the airport.

All in all, it was an extremely tiring but eventful day. We sat in the departure lounge in Hobart with full bellies and heavy eyelids, and returned to Melbourne spent.