Practice swim for Crosshaven Triathlon

Posted on August 23, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

For new triathletes, the swim is often the most daunting part of the event. We will be facilitating a practice swim on the Crosshaven Triathlon course for any 2013 participants who want to get some reassurance they are ready.

The practice swim will take place on Saturday, August 31st at 1.00pm. Any interested entrants should assemble at Crosshaven pier.

We will have one RIB to take seven swimmers at a time out to Currabinny pier and will have experienced swimmers to swim back with them. It will be first come, first served basis so expect to have some waiting.

Steve Redmond & feed bottles

Posted on August 21, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

On my few long swims in the wetsuit last year, I used cold drinks in milk bottles. In togs this year and needing warm drinks, the milk bottles don’t work, so I took Carol Cashell’s advice and went to The Edge to invest in a Contigo bottle.

Open water sea swimming in Cork, Ireland

CMP vs Contigo – out with the old……

Much to my surprise, Steve Redmond – as in, “starting his swim from Ireland to Wales at 11.30pm tonight”, Steve Redmond – was standing at the display counter, pondering which of the bottles to choose.

Being an expert in the field, I gave him sterling advice. I was literally off the phone to Carol being told what to get: she even sent me a picture. I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, because Carol does and I was just parroting her. Mr. Redmond chose what will now be known as Carol’s Bottle. So, when he reaches Wales, I will claim the credit for the advice and if there are any problems with feeds on the way, Steve should contact Carol at swimmersrock.com. Good luck, Steve!

Simon Worley, Steve Redmond and a delighted hanger-on.

Follow Steve here.

August & September swim times

Posted on August 21, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Planned swim times for Myrtleville Beach. These are the times most likely that a group will assemble. Email myrtlevilleswimmers@gmail.com if you’re interested any day. Or tweet @Berlyn1966.

These times can vary earlier or later, so definitely check in advance if you’re coming on your own. Swim at your own risk. Don’t swim alone. Always swim in groups.

Monday: 18:00
Wednesday: 06:30
Friday: 06:30
Saturday: 08:15

No morning swim planned on Saturday, 21st September – Myrtleville to Church Bay Swim.

2012 Myrtleville – Church Bay Swim participants (pic Howard Crowdy)

Bye buoy

Posted on August 20, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The yellow buoy near Bunny’s was proving popular at high tide early yesterday evening for swimmers practicing their sprints for Crosshaven Tri. Unfortunately, one of the other buoys formerly anchored at the Dutchman has started to head towards France, so hopefully nobody used that as a sighting guide.

Dodgy yellow buoy gone to France.

There was a bit of a chill going in, but it still felt quite warm very quickly after that. Getting in is the hard bit……

Possibly feeling a little colder tonight…..Eleanor Courtney and Carol Cashell.

It always feels great when it’s done, though.

Michelle Glossop Smyth, Gary Frost, Joleen Cronin, Siobhan Russell, Grace O’Shea, Richie Kelleher.

Thanks to Siobhan Russell for the pictures.

Congratulations & Good Luck

Posted on August 19, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Owen O’Keeffe warmed up (or rather, cooled down) for his Summer of long swims with a five hour swim in Myrtleville in June and has been clocking up some fantastic results since then. Last week, he completed a 61km swim down the Blackwater from Fermoy to Youghal. It’s hard to even imagine it! Carol Cashell was among the crowd who went to cheer him home and sent some pictures. His swim report is here.

Owen O’Keeffe finishing Fermoy to Youghal 61km swim.

Owen O’Keeffe and family

Also, good luck this week to regular Myrtleville Swimmer, James Slowey, who is racing in the Haute Route Alps – a seven day road race billed as “The highest and toughest cyclosportive in the world”. He made sure he could handle the cold sections on the mountain tops by swimming all Winter….

James Slowey: Myrtleville Ice Beach 22 January, 2013.

And finally, just another beautiful picture of Myrtleville – what a treasure…

Myrtleville, Sunday August 18, 2013.

Beach war

Posted on August 16, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Siobhan Russell, as ever, has been busy recording the activities at the beach. With lots of competitive swims going on and moving closer to the Crosshaven Triathlon, it can get a bit heated at times. Factions and splinter groups definitely appearing….

Blue Seventy vs Orca – gang war line-ups.

It seems it’s getting serious for some…..

I don’t know – and I don’t want to know.

Time to get back to what it’s all about….

Race from the beach – serious Tri preparations going on now.

Speaking of serious swims, Trevor Malone broke the fastest time for an Irish swimmer from Africa to Europe in the last few weeks. As usual, Bernard was straight in for the photo with the returning hero. Here they are – to quote Carol Cashell – brown and browner.

Trevor Malone and Bernard Lynch.

The red-head convention is under way shortly in Crosshaven, but Joleen Cronin still has to get her work done for her first attempt at the Crosshaven Triathlon on September 7th. She’s pictured below with fellow first-timer, Clodagh Monks and our intrepid photographer, Siobhan. 150 individuals and 60 teams are entered and entries are closed. Another fantastic effort by all concerned.

Clodagh Monks, Siobhan Russell & Joleen Cronin – ginger, anyone?

Finally, apparently Tara O’Connell was determined to show off her Barleycove Riviera tan, so this picture was sent for inclusion….

Orlando Hill, Tara O’Connell, Siobhan Russell & Claire Canning.

Keep swimming and remember – Marlin and Dory had to swim 1,568 miles to find Nemo – you can just go to the Dutchman and back if you prefer, although you may not find Nemo there.

Glenbeg Lake, Ardgroom Swim

Posted on August 15, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Brian O’Shea organised a new swim on the August Bank Holiday weekend in the deep West of West Cork, at Glenbeg lake, near Ardgroom. It was a great day and a very welcome new addition to the swimming calendar. Several Myrtleville Swimmers went on tour for the first event. It’s a beautiful place and – I’m told locally – supplies the fresh water for most of the Beara peninsula. Hope they treated it after we were in…

Ardgroom Lake – August 4, 2013

Given that it was so far West, I had a vague hope that the real speedsters might stay away and give the plodders a chance for once. No such luck – not with this crowd around:

Owen, Gabor and Craig – three EC soloists, among other things – no prizes for plodders today

Even Ned Denison can’t keep up with some of them. He was a bit put out after the race to be so far down the leaderboard (only third), so he claimed it just wasn’t long enough and that it wasn’t really 5k anyway – the face on him…

Ned – not happy with that result.

Sam Russell and Denis Condon both did their longest swims yet – no mean feat in fresh water.

Sam Russell gets assistance at the finish…

Denis Condon finishes a great swim in Ardgroom Lake.

A really enjoyable day – whether it was 5k or not – and one for next year again. 32 participants in the first event. Well done, Brian and team.

Gabor made a very nice video on the day:

Myrtleville – Church Bay Swim: Sept. 21st

Posted on July 29, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

Myrtleville – Church Bay 2012 (pic. Howard Crowdy)

The postponement from June is working in favour of many swimmers, giving time to get in more OW swims in preparation. The very warm water is also a great help, of course!

Entries are increasing steadily so if you haven’t done so already, and you wish to enter: click here.

19.5ºC IN THE WATER – IN MYRTLEVILLE, NOT SPAIN.

Posted on July 23, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

A quote from the internationally-accepted precise open water swimming temperature scale, courtesy of loneswimmer.com:
Over 18°C (65°F): This temperature is entirely theoretical and only happens on TV and in the movies.

Last night, verified on three watches, we had 19.5ºC in Myrtleville. Wetsuits were abandoned up and down the beach. Electrolyte transfusions were set up by the boathouse to help recover from the sweat.

23100723_blue-lagoon-hot-water-springs-iceland-art-print-by-erik-

Myrtleville – 22 July, 2013

Regular Myrtleville swimmers (known as Myrtlevillians to Mr. Bohane and others) had been sending home texts from their holidays crowing about 19ºC water “out foreign”. They must be freezing.

After a committee meeting, it has been decided to rename the beach and a new sign was erected this morning:

Myrtleville – AKA Hot Water Beach

See you in the water!

Back to Myrtleville

Posted on July 22, 2013 by myrtlevilleswimmers

The weather is keeping the beach quieter, so we’ll head back to normal tonight – Myrtleville at 6.00pm, not Church Bay.

Myrtleville – Monday @ 6.00pm

Myrtleville Swimmers

Open Water – Sea Swimming in Cork, Ireland

Author Archives: myrtlevilleswimmers