Students conquer rough Rotto swim

Students from Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School powered through rough seas to set records at the Rottnest Channel Swim recently.

Four teams of four, or eight boys and eight girls, overcame choppy water and seasickness to finish the race, with both the male and female school records tumbling along the way.

Jacob Dubois, Gerred McCracken, Leon Doret and Steven Bennett were part of the junior boys team that finished in four hours 45 minutes and 46 seconds, smashing the school’s previous best time by nine minutes and 12 seconds.

They also finished second in the combined 56 to 99 years male category and took out sixth place overall.

The junior girls team of Hannah Daggett, Lauren Patane, Kirsten Roberts and Sarah William completed their swim in 6 hours 13 minutes and 24 seconds, bettering the previous record by eight minutes and 35 seconds.

They placed sixth in the combined 56 to 99 years female category and were the 10th female team overall to finish.

The senior boys and girls teams both finished in the top 20 in their respective categories and Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School swimming coach Bob Marshall said he was proud of all the students who took part.

“I’m pleased as punch all four teams performed so well in what were really tough conditions to start with,” he said.

“I’ve been at a number of these swims and heard one of the regulars saying it was a hard day at the office which I think summed the day up well.”