Congratulations to Kristie Orchard who is the winner* of the Oldham Memorial Cup for Season 2024/25, in a close finish 5 seconds in front of Susie Defrancesco. Third place went to Jo Turton, another 5 seconds behind, with Claire Tucak in fourth another 5 secs back. Some reasonable handicapping to have the first four within 20 seconds of each other! Fastest was Josh Engelbrecht, 10 seconds faster than Tom Peebles.
Kristie (then as an Amies) won this event back in 1993/94, the first female winner! This is the third time the Oldham Memorial Cup has had an all female podium. Previous all female podiums were in 2007/08 (Katrina Amor, Naomi Patrick, Kate Francis (Anderson)) and 2016/17 (Kate Hutchinson, Maia Simmonds, Bernie Williams). For other trophy events all female podiums were Presidents' Cup in 2007/08 (Jessie Thomas (Klaric), Kate Francis (Anderson), Katrina Amor), F. E. Ford Cup in 2012/13 (Lisa Iannello, Lucy Gunzburg, Kristie Orchard) and 2017/18 (Cath Fitzhardinge, Kate Hutchinson, Amy Prosser) and Duncan McPhail Trophy in 2009/10 (Leesa Equid, Claire Tucak, Annie Williams).
Sixteen swimmers contested the Oldham Memorial Cup this season. Thank you to Oli Defrancesco who was volunteered as Susie's water safety. Thanks to Lydia Defrancesco and Andrew Peebles for timekeeping and recording. Swimming conditions were good with a reasonably calm ocean, with the current and swell pushing swimmers slowly towards the finish. Visibility was reasonable. Thanks to Kath Laws and Chris Turner for their 'rescue' at North Cottesloe as we arrived at the start line.









*Obligatory Stewards inquiry pending in the back offices, including performance at the Sunset Run Series Round 2!