A couple of lovely pictures from Siobhan Russell, taken on December 27 – the morning after the big storm.
Myrtleville – December 27, 2013
Roches Point through the spray – December 27, 2013
The water was a bit warmer this morning – didn’t have a temp watch, but no frozen feet or hands today. Next planned time is 08.15 on Saturday, January 4, 2014 – although I’m sure some people will be on the beach on 1/1/14! Happy New Year.
Or – if brisk and bracing don’t cover it for you – try chilly, crisp, toasty (Mr. Finbarr only) or just plain cold.
Temperatures were 7.9c in the water on St. Stephen’s Day and 7.7c this morning for the usual Saturday swim. With -2c on land this morning, a combined 5.7c did justify “brisk”.
The fact that we’re swimming at dawn means not only that we are getting the best of the cold (!) – unlike those on gentlemen’s hours further West – but also the best of the views. Owen O’Keeffe was up from Fermoy after his Blackwater dip on Christmas Day and he got this lovely one on St. Stephen’s Day..
Dawn in Myrtleville, St. Stephen’s Day, 2013
Nine swimmers on Thursday and ten today – great to see. There’s nothing like the buzz.
Jim Shaloo gets ready to go on St. Stephen’s Day.
For those not back at work, we’ll aim for 08.15 on Monday, Dec. 30. Forecast looks reasonable – there’ll definitely be a calm bit!
Siobhan Russell and Gary Frost were busy with cameras yesterday, with the usual huge crowd of charity and fun swimmers on the beach for Christmas. Siobhan has loads of pictures on her Facebook page. I’ve just taken a few for here…
Looks like a normal Myrtleville morning swim………..
Myrtleville – Christmas Day 2013. Now that’s a crowd.
Siobhan and Joleen Elf being detained by the men in uniform.
Pat and Brian’s daily swim was interrupted by hundreds of strangers…
Finbarr Hedderman joins in and pretends to think it’s cold so the others don’t feel bad. In reality, he’s rubbing his hands at the thought of getting a few hours done in the toasty warmth.
Siobhan has too many pictures to include them all, so here’s a completely random representative shot…which just happens to include two of my cousins.
Gary and Siobhan discuss their chosen fields…”Yes, stills are all very well, Siobhan, but I make MOOOVIES……”
And here is that latest mooovie….He’s getting better by the day.
Right, I’m off for my 08.15 St. Stephen’s Day swim now! Owen O’Keeffe is coming from Fermoy, so we’ll need an engine to keep up with him.
It’s been demanding enough to perform to the required levels for Ms. Russell and her photos, now we have to act on video as well, with Buzz Frost directing. Two very nice videos showing his skills progression from the dizzying effort last week…here’s the first one:
In fairness to Gary, he’s no daw – as the saying goes. Like the rest of us, he hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of keeping up with Speedy Cashell. So, he sidled up to the Cashell sisters and said if they just slowed down a bit (about quarter speed), they could be in his movie. Genius. Now he’s touting it as proof he’s as fast as Carol….Voila – slow-mo swimming:
The funny thing was, I saw this picture below by Siobhan before learning about Gary’s master plan. I thought he was trying to race Carol and just thought….”I pity de fool”….Little did I know he had stacked the odds in his favour.
Carol & Gary – by Siobhan….
Happy Christmas everyone!!
Thirty swimmers in the water on Saturday and Siobhan had moved heaven and earth to get off work to get in for a swim and – of course – take the pictures – what a star! She arrived with seasonal props and her subjects were just told to pose..
Tara & Rosaleen Reindeer
Organiser and Birthday girl, Carol with sister, Eleanor – what’s that thing Eleanor’s wearing?
There’s a group of Triathletes swimming at the beach who just can’t go into the water at this stage without someone there to take their picture. Seasoned professionals by now…
They line up on land…..
And they line up in the sea…..
Hats look good on some people – and then there are others…..
There are no redeeming words for this picture. All we can say is Siobhan made us do it….
And again, Siobhan made Dave Dowling do it….
Striking a familiar, yet Festive pose…..the Crosshaven Ladies (with Tim and Keith)…
At one point for those into the water a bit early, it sounded like there might be a problem back on the beach – a tsunami or something – to justify the decibels of screeching as certain irregular swimmers entered the water….
The screams could be heard in Ballycotton……
Smile!! I’m Frozen!!! Me Too!!!!
More of Siobhan’s endless supply of hats….Ger Venner and Joleen Cronin.
Reindeers and Penguins were on hand for the Turkey Swim.
Caroline and helpers did a great job with the mulled wine and it was a really lovely morning. There are some unclaimed prizes – contact Carol:
| Turkey Prizes to be collected! | |
| Joleen Cronin | Large Scented Candle |
| Ros OBrien | Thermal Socks + Selection Box |
| Gabor Molnar | Thermal Socks + Selection Box |
| Jim Shaloo | Mulled Wine |
| Eleanor Courtney | Presecco |
| Gary Frost | Giant Wispa |
| Maria ORegan | “Turkey” (Butcher) Voucher |
| Denis Condon | “Turkey” (Butcher) Voucher |
| Aidan Mangan | 2 Selection Boxes |
Tom Bermingham is a year-round swimmer at Myrtleville. He’s a young fella in his seventies and has been looking for more information on how to lengthen his swims.
As a gift from some of the other swimmers, we presented him this week with a copy of Lynne Cox’s Open Water Swimming Manual. There’ll be no stopping him now.
Pat Higgins, Damian O’Neill, Tom Bermingham and Peter Rooney – with sundry canines and Tom’s new book…
Gary Frost was trying out a new toy on Saturday, with a camera strapped to his head – lots of sea and sky to be seen. Of course, he really just wanted to get on video that he’s swimming in togs, so he had to hand over the camera at the end!
He listed some of the participants from Saturday and we also had Jim Shaloo, Alan Long and Aidan Mangan, who didn’t get into the credits….
If you don’t suffer from motion sickness – watch it here:
Turkey Swim at 10.30am on Saturday 21st next – let’s get a crowd, please!
Mr. Lynch’s picture shows that it’s a bit frothy at the beach, but still swimmable out beyond the wave break in his famous “calm bit”. Just a small few down swimming, but it’s still not cold.
Myrtleville – 10 December, 2013
Ned Denison, who knows a bit about breaking swimming barriers, is giving a seminar on Friday night in The Edge Sports, Kinsale Road Roundabout. Details from Ned……
Friday 6th December…7pm at THE EDGE SPORTS…Kinsale Road Roundabout:
Many of the local swimmers seem to be (temporarily) topping out at 5k.
You have great swims like:
and then you go back to your normal 2k or 3k swims.
There is nothing wrong with this….BUT…if you dream of bigger swims, then you need to BREAK THROUGH THE 5K BARRIER.
The seminar will discuss:
Come along if you are interested….No cost
Ned Denison
Lots of swimming over the weekend, both in Myrtleville and down West around the Island. The Turkey swims are going great this year.
Siobhan got a beautiful picture on the beach on Friday.
Myrtleville 29 November, 2013 – Friday morning swim.
Despite what people might think, Bernard doesn’t spend all his time swimming. Sometimes he goes to the beach and doesn’t swim….
Where does Bernard go on a day off from swimming?……..Sure, where else would you be? Bernard, Abby, Emily & Conor in – surprise, surprise – Myrtleville.
And sometimes (or once this year) he doesn’t swim in Myrtleville…..he goes around Sandycove.
Mike Harris, Bernard Lynch & Emily Lynch in Sandycove.
It’s actually Bernard’s second time in Sandycove this year, but he drove home yesterday, rather than swim home like he did in August!
There were other swimmers around Cork this weekend, but some of them seemed to be taking a break from their training – at around midnight in The Shelbourne…..
Is that a training plan in front of Finbarr….. 🙂
Myrtleville Swimmers 