63 Swimmers Took to the Water in Valentia Last Week

21st July 2011

From thirteen years to sixty five years, male and female, Ireland to New Zealand, sixty three competitors took to the waters in Valentia on Saturday last to compete in an open water 5 mile swim. This course had only been completed once before in 2009 by eight swimmers and only two veterans of that earlier swim were present:

Robert Bohane – the first to swim from Skellig Michael to Portmagee
Lisa Cummins - the only Irish swimmer to complete a double English Channel swim

Speaking to the Valentia Island Triathlon Club representative and event organiser Tim Poullain Patterson " This is our third year organising a local distance swim and with the geography of Valentia Harbour we were able to shift from the planned 4 mile Beginish Island swim to the 5 mile POrtmagee Channel swim. Some competitors took part in wetsuits but the majority went in just bathing suits, nothing but the skin on their backs to fend off the Atlantic ocean and subsequent rain squall.

The event started with competitors being transported by bus from the Royal Hotel Knightstown to Portmagee pier. From the head of the pier the swimmers were let off in waves of six swimmers. The fastest swimmers left last, therefore limiting the spread of swimmers along the channel.

Valentia was well represented in the solo category by Cornelia Lyne (First Local home in 2010), Tim Poullain Patterson, Robert Gallagher and David Egan (first local home 2011 in a time of 2 hours and 46 minutes).

The money raised went to the Valentia Island Community Hospital and to date just over €2,000 has been raised.

Results
Under 18 male Wetsuit
1st Freddie Bassett New Zealand 1:38:40
2nd Sam Benson New Zealand 1:53:18
3rd Edward Vos New Zealand 2:02:40

Over 18 male wetsuit
1st Oran Kane Meath 1:55:82
2nd Gabor Molnar Cork 1:58:20
3rd John Edwards Kerry 2:06:60

Over 18 Just Togs
1st Ned Denison Cork 1:54:07
2nd Colm Breathnach Waterford 1:54:47
3rd Rob Bohane Cork 2:10:30

Over 18 Female westsuit
1st Carol Cashell Cork 1:53:82
2nd Orla Houlihan Cork 2:16:68
3rd Michelle Hoare Kerry 2:18:75

Over 18 female Just Togs
1st Fionnuala Walsh Clare 2:15:95
2nd Andrea Newport Limerick 2:20:48
3rd Rosie Foley Clare 2:23:67

Published in Sea Swim

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