Cold water experimentation.

With the drop in sea temperatures, we’ve taken the opportunity to run some tests under lab conditions.  First, there was the “Do wetsuits stop your eyes from freezing closed?” Test.  The results were inconclusive.  It seems that 50% of swimmers can avoid frozen-eye-syndrome by wearing a wetsuit, while 50% can not.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

50% frozen-eyed in the wetsuit sample of Dave and Brian.

100%  of togs swimmers contract it, though.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

100% of togs swimmers contracted frozen eyes in the Bernard and Jim sample.

The second test was the Riana Parson’s “What would happen if two feet went swimming alone?” test.  It appears they would cause the sun to come up and then trigger an argument of the “Mine! No – Mine!” kind.

Feet point the way for the sun.

Feet point the way for the sun.

I found a foot!

I found a foot!

Further experiments are planned.

February? Cold? No problem. Warmth in numbers!

February is the coldest month of the year for sea swimming, but you couldn’t tell with the numbers who have kept going this year through the Winter.  A big gang in early on Saturday morning and three groups during the day on Sunday.  Why not, when it looks like this as Siobhan Russell captured..

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Myrtleville dawn: February 7th, 2015

Lisa Cummins, as the only Irish person to swim the English Channel two-way, is a bit of a legend and a world-class cold water swimmer.  It’s fair to say it gives everyone a bit of heart when you see her dipping her toe in and saying “eeeeeeekkk” – quietly.  Carol Cashell made sure she didn’t miss the moment for a good smirk too!

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

You have to grab your chances with a visit from someone of Lisa’s experience, so two Myrtlevillain channel aspirants – Kieran Murphy and Anne Sheehy – seized the day and swam the sand channel under Lisa’s guidance.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Lisa carefully coached them in the finer points of the channel-swimming stroke while they crossed the great divide and Riana got it on film.

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Kieran was celebrating with everyone afterwards.  A lifetime goal achieved.  10150580_1070110066348213_3523958810552374717_n

ILDSA Awards – D’Alternative View.

There’s always a few sub-plots going on at any event.  You just have to look carefully.

All the top athletes know that it’s important to take a break from training every now and then.  I think we can all safely assume Denis decided it was time for a break on Saturday night.  I’m not 100% sure what Anne is reacting to, but I can’t see Denis’ other hand either.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Mr. Cregan-Condon – on a break.

In fairness to him, he still has all the moves, though – once he puts on that jacket, there’s no stopping him – irresistible charm.

Denis and Anne

 Finbarr Hedderman won an award for his North Channel swim.  People were amazed when he went up to collect it.  I can see why.  Honestly, I’ve never seem him looking so good.

The best Finbarr has ever looked.  Ever.

Finbarr went all out to prepare for the night.

Finbarr went all out to prepare for the night.

The night went on, as they tend to do.  One of the organisers thought the Myrtleville table was getting unruly so he tried to remove the source of celebration.

Ger Kennedy tries to take it back but Siobhan has both hands on the award.

Ger Kennedy tries to take it back but Siobhan has both hands on the award.

Kieran Murphy soon won him round to our point of view.Kieran Murphy and Ger Kennedy.I just hope Ger didn’t see what Kieran was doing with the hat just before he put it on…I hear Tea Tree shampoo is very effective, Ger.

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And so to the morning after the night before.  Lots of big talk about the swim at 12.00.  How many of our crowd showed up?

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Must have been a good night. Two of them managed to make it to the swim. Two!

Still, the two who made it soon had reason to think the others might have got it right.

Sea swimming in Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Delicate as a butterfly, practicing how to slide and glide in the waves in Bray.

A night to remember.  Just to be fair, here’s some really nice pictures of everyone in their finery – Mermaids et al.

Ger Kennedy, Siobhan Russell, Billy Wallace and Marie Watson. 10917419_1065437636815456_5803047124041037027_n 10014672_1065437770148776_4017756323650982511_n

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Siobhan gets the speech done – with support.

Diarmuid and award-winning Rian Herlihy.

Diarmuid and award-winning Rian Herlihy.

Carmel Collins & Coleen Mallon.

Carmel Collins & Coleen Mallon.

ILDSA Awards Night

Trophy & Hat. Winning an award is great, but accepting it and having to give a speech is nerve-wracking for anyone.  Siobhan Russell did a fantastic job on behalf of us all last Saturday night in Wicklow.  Her short, perfect speech is below.

“Thank you for awarding this honour to Myrtleville Swimmers for promoting Open Water Swimming in Ireland. We are thrilled to bits to accept this award on behalf of all Myrtleville Swimmers!

Swimming in Myrtleville has transitioned from small beginnings to one of the most popular Swimming Groups and places in Ireland.

Myrtleville Swimmers Philosophy is Inclusion – from the Newest Open Water Swimmer to the seasoned Long Distance Swimmer and from the Youngest, to the not so Young!

Myrtlevillains welcome you all to swim in the Real Capital of Ireland and enjoy coffee, cake and a chat with us and who knows your photo may even appear on Damians Blog – if I have anything to do with it!

We are looking forward to swimming with Ger, Alice and all of you tomorrow. Thanks so much again.

UP CORK!”

I’m delighted to see that all present responded appropriately to the last shout….

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Rouse the Rebels!! Up Cork!!

Fantastic work by everyone.  The Trophy.

WE WIN!

 Up the Rebels and Viva Myrtleville! 🙂

We win!

Announced tonight at the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association Awards Dinner.  Thanks to everyone who voted for us to win the ILDSA MARGARET SMITH AWARD – for a group who increased the profile of open water swimming.

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NOTE: All future references to us – online or otherwise – must now be to:

 “The Award Winning Myrtleville Swimmers ™ ® ©.”

Licence fees for use of our name, images and overall aura and mystique will be collected by Condon Credit Control Ltd. (slogan: “Pay up or we’ll shower you in s**te.”).

Keep swimming and increasing the profile 🙂

Swimming in and from Graball Bay.

Great plans are being made for a swim from Graball to Crosshaven during the Summer.   Lots of us have been to Church Bay – if you continued on you would round Weaver’s Point and be at Graball.  From there you swim past Camden and around the corner into Crosshaven.  A nice swim with the tide coming in, to push you along.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Graball to Crosshaven – aerial view.

Swimming in Graball has some considerable history.  The picture below is from 1934.

Open water, sea swimming in Cork, Ireland.

Ocean swimming in Graball Bay in 1934. The winner of this race, held under the auspices of the Munster Branch of the IASA, was Richard Jones, captain of the Dolphin Swimming Club.

There was a swimming club and changing rooms there in the 1920s and 30s.

Image of decline. The remnants of the former Crosshaven Swimming Club. It went into disrepair following the closure of the Cork - Crosshaven railway line. Pic. F. Schoonbaert

Image of decline. The remnants of the former Crosshaven Swimming Club at Graball. It went into disrepair following the closure of the Cork – Crosshaven railway line. Pic. F. Schoonbaert

Of course William Lawrence included it in his collection around 1905.

Graball Bay Graball to Roches Point

Nice to see Myrtleville Swimmers making plans to bring some swimming back there again.  Roll on the Summer!

I know for real historians and locals I am glossing over the history of swimming in Graball / Crosshaven.  If there are other pictures or information that anyone has, I’d be delighted to get them and share them.

Life and how to live it.

I’ve often mentioned our daily swimmers – Pat, Tom and Peter, not to mention Brian and Adrian.  I think they’re inspirational and capture exactly what OW swimming is about and why it’s so fantastic.

Denis Condon came up with a great idea to record their daily swim and Anne Sheehy worked her magic on the video.  This is sheer joy and if it doesn’t convince you that sea swimming is the world’s best medicine – and fun – nothing will.

Take four minutes to savour this.  It’s worth it.  You’ll probably watch it again 🙂