Bunny Swims 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The inaugural year for Bunny Swims seemed to catch the attention of the easily-distracted group in Myrtleville. Not too sure about further West, though.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Started early – got worse. Friday morning.

Some of the Saturday morning crowd.

As with all events, there were sub-plots and by-lines all over the weekend. There was Claire Canning getting back into the water on Sunday….

OK, you made me go in here, but there is NO WAY I’m putting my head in or swimming. So there. Claire Ní Channain folds her arms and puts her foot down. But not her face.

Claire was generous enough to loan her dressing gown to an elderly kayaker after the swim, though. She thought he looked cold, but I’d say the red flushes were more being hot and bothered by the bunnies really…

Mike Hefner and supporters.

Poor old Tom and Pat came down for their daily swim – to be accosted by bunnies. They don’t seem to have minded, though.

These poor men were minding their own business as they do every morning and then……

So, having added an extra swim on Sunday morning, it was on to Sandycove for the evening. I wasn’t there, but you’d have to say the pictures seem to show a level of bemusement as the Myrtlevillian hordes descended for their fourth Bunny Swim of the weekend.

On one side of the road we had….Yeah, I haven’t taken mine off since Friday.

On the other side of the road…

What in the name of God is going on here, Tadhg? Why is there a plague of rabbits over there? Don’t they know this is the world famous, serious Sandycove Island?

Look, I’m sorry – says Angela – it all seemed like a good idea until that Myrtleville crowd got involved.

And so we had two – very separate – groups.

Serious Sandycove Swimmers.

……and the other lot. With Mike Harris in his element and Angela getting dragged into it – like it or not!

It really was a long weekend. By Monday, it was just too much for some young people and a nap was needed.

Seminar on Nutrition?

Posted on April 6, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

After the night with Eilis, there was some discussion about organising another evening event. “Nutrition for swimmers” was the topic being suggested. At first I thought it would be a very good idea. Then I considered the group of swimmers we have in Myrtleville. To be fair, if it’s one thing they’re experts on – it’s their own nutrition.

100% not nutritionally challenged.

There’s no way they’ll miss out on the key 45 minute post-swim window to replenish the food supply to the muscles. They’d hardly miss 45 seconds.

Pat Lowry ensuring that the ‘golden window’ for post-swim nutrition isn’t missed. Feed ’em on the beach, says Pat.

If anyone is feeling a weakness on the way home after all the sausages and cake, just have some Smash pre-made and ready for when you come in the door. That’ll fill you up.

The only nutrition tip you need. None of that fresh food rubbish.

The Dutchman

Posted on April 2, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

I just liked these two from Siobhan taken at this morning’s swim – makes it clear where the Hat design came from!

Swim tomorrow at 07.00 for the Bunny Swim. For leisurely folk (Denis etc.) there’s also going to be a 10.00 swim. Why you’d bother is beyond me – sure, the day is over at that stage.

Bunny Ears Competition

Posted on April 1, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A reminder that the Bunny Swims are going ahead next weekend:

Remember, if this is your first weekend back, be smart, don’t stay in too long, swim with someone for company, and wrap up warm afterwards. This weekend schedule is all about starting to reacclimatise and the social catch-up!

EASTER WEEKEND	LOCATION	BUNNY TIME	Other Swim Times
FRI 3RD APR	MYRTLEVILLE	07:00	SC – 16:30
SAT 4TH APR	MYRTLEVILLE	08:15	SC – 17:00
SUN 5TH APR	SANDYCOVE	17:30	MV – 12:00
MON 6TH APR	SANDYCOVE	18:00	MV – 18:00

As an added bonus for the weekend, we’re having a Bunny Ears competition. Whoever has the best ears will get Finbarr Hedderman’s medals for his North Channel Swim, which Siobhan Russell is sick of dusting.

Anne Sheehy has got her entry in early.

It’s a good attempt, Anne, but not a great attempt. I’m sure there will be lots of others trying to beat this and win Finbarr’s medals.

By the way, while we’re talking about Anne, what – I wonder – was she saying to Gary here? Maybe: “I thought that didn’t happen until after you went into cold water?” or, “Not even a HARCON shower’s going to help you there, Gary.”

Swim Safe this weekend and always 🙂

Monday Nights are back!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A good crowd last night considering the near gale – but it was Westerly so we had lots of shelter. A few people discovered it’s a bit harder to swim back into the gale than out with it, though 🙂

Water around 9c so it’s definitely got a bit warmer. Bunny Swims this weekend – 07.00 on Good Friday and 08.15 on Saturday, as usual.

Some of the first Monday night group. Lots of black and some pink (but not Carmen – she’s in Violet).

Rory Coughlan – down for his second swim in Myrtleville and Breda ‘it’s very hard swimming into that wind’ Maguire.

Gary Frost attempts a photo bomb on the Twomey family portrait but he’s just too far away.

Monday nights and Safe Swimming: Always.

Posted on March 30, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

They’re back! With the sea temperature around 9℃ and the forecast for a bit of WSW wind, tonight at 6.00pm is the first Myrtleville Monday evening swim of 2015. Last year we had nights where between 5.00pm and 7.30pm over 200 swimmers took to the water.

Sea swimming is fantastic, but let’s just have a quick reminder that safe swimming is what it is all about. Never take a chance in the sea.

Each individual swimmer is responsible for their own safety.

We all swim at our own risk.

Monday nights have become so popular because they give an opportunity to swim with others. That’s great, but don’t make the mistake of swimming too far from the beach just to stay with a group. Even in a group don’t go too far out to sea – stay inside (well inside) the line between the Dutchman Rocks and Bunnyconnellan. You don’t ever need to be more than 100m out from the coast – and less is better.

Plan your swim. Go only as far as you can comfortably go, while remembering always that you have to get back to where you started. There’s no point swimming 750m to the Dutchman and then struggling back, or needing help. That’s not only pointless, but dangerous. Why not swim 50m or 100m from the beach, then swim back? If you feel good, do it again – as often as you want to and in complete safety.

There are always swimmers looking to do shorter distances – just speak up: ask what people are doing, see if it suits you and only do what you can accomplish safely. Over time, you can build up to longer distances, if that is what you want to do. Be Safe – Always.

Now’s a good time to read for the first time or remind yourself of some very good advice on safe swimming in Myrtleville.

Swim at your own risk.

D’Eclipse – de video and d’outtakes.

Posted on March 27, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Congratulations once again to the fabulous film-making team of Condon and Sheehy. The Eclipse video is excellent.

Anne does a great job of taking the raw materials from Denis and producing smooth, slick videos. Of course, it’s not always that straightforward in the creative process. There may be the odd bump in the path when people don’t do what’s wanted when the director wants it done. Director Denis is not always happy – especially when he has to count the actors in again.

In this next one – something’s happening or at least Denis tells us it is. Just don’t follow Pat – Denis won’t like that. Oh, speaking of Pat….we can hear what you were saying to our Siobhan on this video, Mr. Lowry. She can sing if she wants to sing and don’t you be a bully boy telling her to sing So Low. You leave our Siobhan alone – you brat. Voice of an angel, she has, an angel 😉

Great work Anne – nobody need ever know how much you had to cover up with Bonnie’s singing.

Munster OWS calendar 2015

Posted on March 26, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Thanks to Finbarr Hedderman, the first draft of the 2015 Open Water Swim calendar is now available here.

The highlight, of course, is the RNLI Myrtleville to Church Bay swim on July 4 😊 but there are lots of other great events to plan for.

Peace breaks out – HARCON PLC goes public.

Posted on March 23, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

In breaking business, legal and sporting news this column can exclusively reveal that the feuding empires of the Condon and Harris Shower companies have let business logic come to the fore and have joined forces as HARCON Plc. This new entity will combine the polished, established credentials of the Harris Shower company with the guerilla marketing tactics of the younger upstarts in Condon Showers, to seek world domination of the post-OW swim shower market. All ongoing legal actions between the two companies worldwide have been dropped.

Chairman and CEO of HARCON Plc on a corporate day out to celebrate the new company.

Speaking at the company launch, Mike Harris (Chairman), commented that combining the first three letters of each of the existing company names to create HARCON seemed the perfect naming solution. Mr. Harris noted that they had considered the first three letters of his name and the last three of Mr. Condon’s. However, it was felt that HARDON Plc could potentially have some negative connotations. Given that same was also anatomically impossible after a cold water swim this might open the door to misinterpretation by customers – with potential legal challenges. “And we’ve had enough of those”, said Mr. Harris, wryly.

New promotional shot of the HARCON Shower in use.

This is a good-news business story for all concerned – except the customers, as shower prices have now been doubled. “Monopoly?”, CEO Condon was quoted as saying, “I haven’t played that for years. ”

Delighted that all the issues are resolved, Chairman of HARCON Plc, Mr. Mike Harris, made his way to the mecca of OW swimming and gave thanks.

Audience with Eilis – de pictures.

Posted on March 20, 2015 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Thanks very much to Eilis Burns for an excellent talk last night. Those who didn’t know her got an insight into why she’s the best coach around and those who did know her still learned something new – or got told they couldn’t swim, like Bernard.