There were three double swimming winners in yesterday's 'The Edge Sports' Sandycove Island Challenge 2010. Now it its 14th year, this 1.1 mile race takes swimmers around the famous Sandycove Island in in Kinsale, County Cork Ireland.

Lisa Cummins, the only Irish swimmer ever to swim from England to France and back presented the prizes.  For three of the winners, it was their second win in the event:

Carol Cashell – female wetsuit division (2010 and 2009)
Sarah Clifford – female non-wetsuit division (2010 and 2008)
Ross Higgins – male wetsuit division (2010 and 2008)

Chris Mintern, following several other wins in Munster swims this summer, won the male non-wetsuit division

Ned Denison won the masters division as the non-wetsuited swimmer with the fastest time relative to the 800m freestyle world record for his age group.

Owen O'Keefe, the youngest Irish swimmer of the English Channel, was awarded the Mike Harris Trophy as best representing the commitment and ethos of open water swimming.

Race Chairman Ciaran O'Connor (a veteran English Channel swimmer and crew member) reflects on the day:  "The conditions on the day were challenging with water temperature at 14C and moderate swell and chop.   Several swimmers celebrated their first ever mile swim in the sea while at the other end of the range, the crowd paid tribute to 13 of the local swimmers who took on the English Channel this past year."

Cork Masters Swimming Club and Cork Lions Club hosted the event and proceeds benefit local charities.