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ABOUT
Long Distance Swimming in South Africa
and the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association

LONG DISTANCE SWIMMING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Distance swimming has a long history in South Africa with the first recorded swim in 1899 when Henry Charteris Hooper swam from Robben Island to the old Cape Town harbour. Since then more than 200 individuals have done the crossing from or to Robben Island and various other distance swims in South Africa.

Any swim over 7km has been defined as a long distance swim and this has been ageneral condition when judging whether one qualifies for recognition or not. The motivation for swimming long distances varies from person to person, but the sense of achievement on completing a long swim is common to all. To swim a long swim, whether from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand or Simonstown to Muizenberg is within the reach of any swimmer and this is a fact as portrayed by the list of people who have completed any of these swims. It takes training, dedication, endurance, and most of all determination to complete a swim.
Originally open water swimming in South Africa started with the Fish Hoek to Muizenberg (marathon swim) which is a distance of 5 kilometers. The South African Association of Marathon Swimmers is now known as the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association.

THE CAPE LONG DISTANCE SWIMMING ASSOCIATION


The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association is the only official body to officiate over solo swims in Cape waters, and elsewhere in the country on request.

HISTORY OF CAPE LONG DISTANCE ASSOCIATION

The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA) was formed in 1969 largely as a result of interest generated in long distance swimming by the Robben Island to Woodstock race which was held in March of that year. A small group of swimmers and officials decided it was necessary to form a body to officiate and record all long distance swims in the Cape. The constitution laid down the basic rules of the sport which conform with today's international FINA rules. Founder members were Dennis Pearson, Coenie van Eyssen, Frank Nielsen, John Pagden and Peter Bales, with surfing doyen John Whitmore as President.

During the 1970's two races were organised from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg but apart from this, the Association's sole function remained officiating swims. In the 1980's a group of swimmers from the Atlantic seaboard joined the committee and numerous open water events were organised, many continuing on an annual basis until the present. People such as Tony Scalabrino, Eddie and Anthony Cassar, Barry Cutler and Chris Barnard kept the Association growing and six years ago a national body was formed in order to select and take swimmers to the World Championships.