From Silver Fern to 'White Caps'

Tania Dalton understands high pressure sport. She was a long time Silver Fern, playing for the national netball team 13 times from her debut in 1996 to her most recent appearance in 2007 and has a long and successful career of top level provincial netball to her name.

In between times she has found time to have three children with husband Duane and is nowadays whilst not officially retired, a regular commentator and critic on the sport while focusing on raising her three young children.

But on Sunday she will find a comfort zone that she has until now not stepped outside of. On Sunday Dalton will line up alongside 1,400 other swimmers to take on the Sovereign Harbour Crossing, a 2.8km ocean swim from Devonport to the Viaduct.

And the closer it gets the more she wonders why she said yes to organiser Scott Rice all those weeks ago!

“I must admit I have been having a few moments lately wondering what I have got myself into, this is really a big challenge for me. I have always done some swimming with my netball training but usually once a week and always in the pool.”

Dalton admits that one of the biggest drawbacks to swimming is it curtails one of her favourite hobbies – talking. But even she found a way round that on a recent training swim in the harbour.

“I like to talk, doesn’t matter where or when or to who, I just like to talk! But swimming makes that a bit difficult, especially in the ocean when all you can do is look down into the water and be careful when you breathe not to take in any seawater. The silence is all a bit eerie to start with and takes some getting used to.

“But on Saturday I stopped mid swim and had a good chat with a board-paddler, it was great. We had a laugh and a good talk in the middle of the ocean; I just needed to talk to someone!”

Dalton has never been one to back down from a challenge though and had no doubt that once she gets through the swim on Sunday she will look back with pride and pleasure at the hard work and focus required to achieve such a feat.

“I am so competitive and love a challenge but nowadays I don’t always get these sorts of opportunities. Scott put it in front of me, offered me some training advice, a blueseventy wetsuit and a date on the calendar.

“I have had some help from Haydn Woolley (swim coach) but by and large I have boxed on to my own timetable – you don’t have much choice when you have three kids. They are a part of this too; I have been down to the Beach Series with them and run along the beach but must admit to not thinking I would be swimming in an event like this.

“The biggest worry might be getting too competitive with Duane who has promised to swim alongside me and help me with navigation. We ran the half marathon together and I just had to out run him; we played social soccer together and I ended up throwing the ball at him. I will have to control myself a little better on Sunday I think.”

Dalton will be in good company on Sunday, with over 1,400 swimmers taking part in one of the worlds most famous and successful ocean swims. Amongst the starters will be ACT Party leader Rodney Hide, taking part in his third Sovereign Harbour Crossing.

 

 

The Sovereign Harbour Crossing
Sunday 16th November
Devonport to the Viaduct
9.35am start time