Author Archives: myrtlevilleswimmers

May – over, but not forgotten

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May’s a tough month.  Lots of swimming because the sun’s up, but cold.  Very cold.  I love May.  Love it.  Bye bye, Pool.  The water feels cold – “I don’t care” as Trevor Malone said when he jumped in prior to his channel swim a few years ago.  Of course, Trevor followed that up with “I’m swimming to France”.  Most of us won’t be saying that!

Why am I talking about May?  In June?  I was too busy lately to spend time on important things – like reading loneswimmer.com.  So, I missed the article from two weeks ago that I’d asked for two years ago.  “Write fancy stuff about May, Donal”, I said.  “More of that flowery shite that Mr. Finbarr loves”.  “No”, said Donal.  Only a few years later, he changed his mind.

Click here for fancy writing about swimming in May in Ireland. 

Mr. Finbarr loved it, I’d say.  The Myrtlevillians even got a mention at the end!  FAME – at last!  You can’t go higher than loneswimmer.com.  Thanks, Donal!

Volunteers wanted for July 3rd

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We need volunteers to help on the night of the swim with between 200-300 participants expected.  We’ll need help with parking, stewards, beach cleaning, registration, gear loading and unloading, timing chip collection  etc.  We would appreciate if anyone not swimming in the event would give up some time to assist on the night. Please let Damian O’Neill or Bernard Lynch know if you are available or email myrtevilleswimmers@gmail.com.

Denis and Noreen are very clear on the number of good reasons why you should not volunteer if you’re not swimming.  A big zero!

If you’re going to swim and haven’t done so Get entered now on Active.  No entries allowed on the night.

Swim nutrition

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Paul Ramsell posted a question on the Facebook group recently regarding drinks and feeds during long swims.  He got some great responses from experienced swimmers covering all kinds of 5:4:1, Lo4 and Hi5 mixes, 45 minute intervals, preparatory porridge packing, hot water etc.  Everything he could want to know.  Except the truth. 

The truth is the top swimmers don’t like to share the secrets of their success.  They’ll spout about carbs and protein, but they’re really powering themselves on 5.1% malt and yeast.  Occasionally one of them will let their guard down and us lesser mortals will get a glimpse of how they’re really able to perform at the level they do.

Like this morning, when Bernie Lynch was overtired from powerwashing his garden and didn’t think to keep a towel over his nutritional stash.  He just threw a pair of jocks on the box.  Peroni.  That’s his secret.  That’s what makes him so successful.  Others have their own preferred brand but it’s clearly all down to their chosen drink.

A tired B. Lynch looking a bit confused as to why his picture was being taken.

OOOPs. The moment when he realises the secret is out.

So now you know, Mr. Ramsell.  Plenty of time to make a stop at some off-licences nutritional supply centres on the way up the country to Carlingford today.  Just a word of warning – overexposure to your chosen power supply can lead to meltdown.

Bernard after a bit of a day out from Dover, August 2016.

RNLI Myrtleville-Church Bay entry limit

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A maximum of 300 entries are going to be accepted for the swim on July 3rd. 

We are currently heading past 200 (lots of people were busy at the weekend 🙂 ) so while there’s still space, it will disappear as the weather improves.  If you’re planning to swim – enter early.

Entries online via Active only.  Enter here.

We can’t promise there will be dolphins that evening, but they’re available as training partners in Myrtleville at the moment – as caught by Siobhan Russell yesterday.

The Myrtleville Showers barbershop quartet, led by Antoinette “Madonna” Wilson will also be performing on the evening.  Not to be missed.

Get entered if you don’t want to miss out.

Swim Sponsors announced

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During a review of the 2017 Myrtleville to Church Bay event, it was noted that some participants commented that there were only prizes for first to third in male and female categories.  Other boys and girls felt left out and went home feeling sad that they didn’t get a prize.  “Other swims give everyone a prize”, said one commenter.  “I deserve a medal too”, said Pat Lowry another sad boy.

Responding to this feedback, the non-committee of the Church Bay swim conducted a call for voluntary sponsors, in order that an expanded range of prizes would be on offer.  While we won’t have one for everybody in the audience, there will be more winning swimmers.  We are delighted to announce four new categories, prizes and sponsors.

Given that this is a new departure for our event, we felt it was appropriate to allow each sponsor to nominate – or indeed, invent – the category for which their prize would be awarded.  The criteria for each winner were decided by the various sponsors.

The additional prizes to be competed for on July 3rd are:

  • Category One:  First female swimmer named Sheehy who has a sister named Carmen
  • Prize: Romantic night for two in Charlie’s Bar on Union Quay
  • Sponsor: Denis Condon
  • Category Two: First male breast stroke swimmer from Barnsley who knows his way round the snap and sup in KC’s
  • Prize: 1 year subscription to Weight Watchers
  • Sponsor: Cáit Ní Ghréilligh
  • Category Three: First mustachioed Alcatraz swimmer named John, who helps out Penny Dinners a lot
  • Prize: Voucher entitling winner to pay for two weeks holiday in Lanzarote
  • Sponsor: Martina Kiely
  • Category Four: First brave boy named Pat who has a brother called Eoin and does paramedicy stuff
  • Prize:  A big hug from his fan club
  • Sponsor:  Denise Lowry

We are hopeful that we will receive further similar no-strings-attached sponsorship offerings.  Great to see the generosity of our sponsors.  

Don’t miss your chance to win!  Get entered now:

https://www.active.com/cork-countycork/water-sports/swimming/rnli-myrtleville-church-bay-2km-open-water-swim-2018

 

Free Hands-Only CPR Training – Sunday 15th

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The more Myrtleville swimmers and beach users who know CPR, the better.  Here’s a great opportunity to get free training next Sunday.

Carrigaline Community First Responders are running a Free CPR Awareness and Training day on Sunday 15th April 2018 from 10.00am to 6.00pm in the Carrigaline Court Hotel. 

The main aim of this event is to provide Free Hands only CPR Training to as many of the public as possible on the day. It is also to raise the awareness of the importance of providing immediate assistance in the event of Cardiac Arrest, in the form of excellent quality compressions.

As part of the community awareness day the Carrigaline Community First Responder have organised free Health screening for anyone who wishes to avail of it. This screening will be run by qualified nurses and EMTs. It is completely confidential and carried out in a secluded setting.

The Hands-only CPR awareness day has been very kindly supported by Janssen Sciences Ireland and the Carrigaline Court Hotel.

Search & Rescue Dogs Deployed In A Bid To Locate 6pm Swimmers

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News just in from Glen Barton….

As you kindly made us all aware last week that last night would host the first of the 6pm swims of 2018. But little did we three think that we would have the Myrtleville bath to ourselves and parking restrictions were non-existent. Yes three lonesome souls kick-started the 6pm swims of 2018.


It’s just a pity that the other 4997 Myrtleville Swimmers (non-club) Fair-weather Sailors missed out on such a magical evening of sub-surface song & dance.

After the event, it was decided to deploy a Search & Rescue Dog named ‘Dante’ (a crackin lookin fella by the way) who was fortunate enough to be on a training exercise in the area with his handler Joanne Horgan, in a bid to locate the missing 4997 so-called swimmers.

But efforts were delayed as the dog team had to locate their ‘missing person’ of the training exercise first. Not naming names or anything but if Dodger Ramsell didn’t decide to hide 170 feet up a vertical cliff face off Fennell’s Bay, then some of the swimmers may have been reunited with their loved ones in a more timely fashion.

The search was stood-down at nightfall, and will resume at first light tomorrow morning with 136 more Search Dogs being drafted in from all parts of the world, the assistance of the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 117, various Maritime Search & Rescue agencies, along with some feen called Condon that’s supposed to have superior local knowledge of the area.

Our efforts will continue until 17:59 on Monday 3rd Apr, at which time you will find us back in the Myrtleville bath. All are welcome.

Glen Barton 🙂

Mondays are back

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The world-famous 6 pm Myrtleville Monday swims are recommencing on Monday, March 26th, once the clocks have sprung forward.

If you’re going to join the fun for the first time, read this post so that you’re clear on personal responsibility:

https://myrtlevilleswimmers.com/2017/05/26/who-is-responsible-for-your-safety/

If you’re an experienced open water swimmer – read it anyway.  No harm reminding ourselves that it’s ALL ABOUT SWIMMING SAFELY.

Let’s get the Summer started 🙂

Selkies, Open Water Swimming in Cork, Ireland

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Here’s hoping your day is going well.  However it is going, it’s got to be better than poor Mike Harris’ morning.  After a beautiful swim in Myrtleville (sure where else would he be?) Mr. Harris was subjected to checking if someone needed a shower before being allowed into the sea.  No sign of the Lynx effect, chez Lynch.  Feck sake, there’s a special offer on deodorant in Centra Crosshaven.  Does he not know that?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone.  Good luck to Nemo and Ireland!