More Info →Karena conquers Cook Strait continued

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Karena looked none the worse this morning for having completed the momentous swim. The swim behind her she could now get stuck into her School Certificate studies, she said. Yesterday she had slept and rested a lot and had tried to swim a bit to loosen up but had found she was too stiff, she said Karena said she had had to train three to four hours a day in preparation for the swim, so she had to get it over with early in the year so it didn't cut into her School Certificate studies. Karena's next marathon event is the swim to Kapiti Island and back. She said she has only been really keen on swimming in the last five years but swimming the Cook Strait is something she has wanted to do all her life. Today Alison and Kevin Doig were brimming over with pride at their daughter's achievement. "It's hard to put it into words but we just feel so proud. She's done it all herself, we didn't push her at all," said Mrs Doig.

Mrs Doig said she was glad it was all over. Her motherly instincts had come to the fore when the shark appeared and she had wanted to get her daughter out of the water. No swim was worth that, she had thought.

She said she paddled out to Karena toward the end of the swim and Karena started to say she wished she could get out. Karena had said all she was thinking about was a nice warm towel or rug and a big hug.

Both parents expressed their gratitude to the Waitarere Life Saving Club. - "They were fantastic the way they kept encouraing her and kept her going, especially Peter Jamieson who was beside her on the surf-ski all the way," said Mrs. Doig.

Mr Doig said Horowhenua College is going to honour his daughter by putting a plaque on the wall with a map showing the route she swam. Karena had received a message of encouragement from the Governor General, Sir Paul Reeves, during the swim.

Levin Baptist Church Newsletter

Congratulations to Karena Doig on her marathon effort in swimming Cook Strait. Karena at 15 is the youngest woman to accomplish this feat.

Congratulations to Karena Doig on her magnificent effort in swimming Cook Strait. Just imagine the physical effort and dedication required to stay in the water for some eight hours. If there was a Horowhenua Sportsperson of the Year award she would certainly get my nomination. Great stuff!

Swimmer

Record-breaking young swimmer Karena Doig, who last month became the youngest woman to swim Cook Strait, has an Ashburton connection. Fifteen-year-old Karena is the granddaughter of Ashburton residents, Doug and Betty Doig, and Karena's father, Kevin, grew up here. The family now lives in Levin.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 1989

The only exceptions were Caleb and Joshua (son of Nun) —for they wholeheartedly followed the Lord and urged the people to go on into the Promised Land. Numbers 32:12 Where is God asking you to step out by faith into unknown territory? Instead of being controlled by a fear of the unknown, let your actions be guided by a confidence of the Known—the God of Israel.

Identification

Date

1989