A hero’s welcome awaited Somerset West’s extreme swimmer Howard Warrington after he completed his 100th Robben Island crossing on Sunday (22 May).
Not only did the well-known avid water athlete accomplish this remarkable feat, which makes him the fourth person in the world to swim from Blouberg to Robben Island a hundred times, but he also raised more than R100 000 in aid of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA (“Historic open-water swim crusade to aid furry friends,” DistrictMail, 7 April).
“I was very fortunate to have friends – not all swimmers – join me on the day,” he said. “These friends trained very hard and a couple of them did their first crossing. They helped raise funds for the animal welfare organisation.”
Warrington reckoned the 14º C weather temperature aided the gruelling open-water swim.
“The reception at the beach was amazing. Swimmers I trained with over the years and people who followed my adventures waited for me on the beach. It was so special.”
What stood out for him was a 95-year-old woman, who also waited for him on the beach among the crowd. “I not only did it for the SPCA, but for all these people. It was a great experience and something I will never forget,” he said.
“We aimed high (R100 000) and surpassed it. The day before we were at R74 000. People around me saw the training and after the swim someone I know paid the difference and pushed us past the R100 000 mark. I am now shifting the goal post to R120 000.”
Warrington has extended his adventure and plans to swim a double Robben Island crossing (from Blouberg to Robben Island, and then back to Blouberg) – a total of 15 km to raise the balance by tomorrow (26 May).
