Swimmers take to Leschenault Inlet for 42nd annual Barrett Bunbury Swim Thru

Ninety swimmers took to the Leschenault Inlet to try and meet their goal times in this year’s Barrett Bunbury Swim Thru.

Swimmers from across the State took part in the February 24 event, seeing competitors swim 1.6km of the iconic waterway.

The swim is not your usual competitive races, with participants racing to see how close they can get to their estimated finish time nominated prior to the event.

Paul Ison took out the main prize with a time of 26 minutes and 10.7 seconds, just 0.7sec. off his target.

But it was a South West brother and sister who were the fastest competitors on the day.

Olivia Doddy, 15, completed the swim in a time of 21min. 45.3sec., just nine seconds before fellow South West product Emma Warburton.

Joel Doddy, 18, was the quickest male swimmer, finishing in a time of 23min. 11.9sec.

The 90 swimmers who competed were from all walks of life, ranging from 12-year-old Kenna Harris who was the under-15 winner to 88-year-old Ron Edwards who received the over 80 accolade.

Event organiser Errol Barrett said he was pleased to see the long-standing event still going strong after more than four decades.

“It was great to see many new faces competing this year and the familiar ones coming back year after year despite advancing age,” he said.

“There is such a great atmosphere when you have swimmers aged from 12 to over 80 swimming alongside each other and having a great time doing so.

“With this event being based on nominating your time it adds that extra element of surprise and fun for the swimmers.”

It is the 42nd year the Swim Thru has taken place, with funds raised to be donated to the City of Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club.