Just one week to go now until we will be seeing you all in Fermoy for the annual Blackwater Swim. It has been a great season for swimming in the River so far, the water has been warm, there is very little flow and water quality is excellent. Fingers crossed that the weather will be good on the day!
This year we have been overwhelmed by the popularity of the event. We received 90 entries within three weeks of entries being opened. Unfortunately, we could only accept the first 70 for insurance reasons. Hopefully next year we will have more spaces available. We also boast a very impressive line-up of swimmers this year, including:
1. Two one-way English Channel Soloers and Ireland's only two-way soloer, Lisa Cummins.
2. Seven English Channel hopefuls for 2010.
3. Two 70km Round Jersey Hopefuls for 2010.
4. Two past 26.4km Lake Zurich swimmers plus three who hope to do it this year.
5. The Irish Record holder for the 18km Straits of Gibraltar (Europe to Africa) swim and two 2010 aspirants.
6. Jen Hurley who has swum Rottnest twice and is going again this year. She is also swimming the English Channel this year.
7. Colm Breathnach who is planning to swim the equivalent of the English Channel from Dungarvan to Dunmore East.
8. Rob Bohane who is the only person to have swum the 16km from Sceilg Mhichíl to Portmagee.
9. Two swimmers who are on the Irish Triathlon squad.
10. Eleven swimmers under the age of 16 and many swimmers travelling from the UK.
So now you can include yourself in that line-up!
1. Registration for the 6km swim will open at 12:30 and will remain open for 1hr. If you miss registration then you will not be able to swim. A safety briefing will be held immediately after registration closing and the swim will be in the water at 2pm sharp.
2. Registration for the 2km swimmers will open at 13:30 and will remain open for 1hr. If you miss registration then you will not be allowed to swim. A safety briefing will be held immediately after registration closing. The swim will be in the water at 3pm sharp but the under 16s will start a few minutes before the rest.
3. After your swim, showers will be provided in the Rowing Club. Then, please join us upstairs where there will be plenty of food and refreshments available, you can see pictures of the swim on the big screen and prizes will be presented to the fastest swimmers in the 2km and 6km and a special prize will be presented to the youngest swimmer.
4. You should get there early so that you will have time to register and get settled in. Registration will take place upstairs in the Rowing Club. A voluntary donation can be made to cover the cost of the swim, and the remainder will go the Ballycotton Lifeboat.
5. Directions to the swim are as follows:
From Cork:
1. Take M8 motorway for DUBLIN Baile Átha Cliath.
2. Once through the toll (€1.90 for a car), take Exit 15 (signposted R639 FERMOY Mainistir Fhear Maí).
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit (signposted FERMOY Mainistir Fhear Maí).
4. Once you come into the town, go straight through the crossroads at the traffic lights.
5. Take left lane onto Pearse Square (town centre) and then left again onto Ashe Quay (just before the bridge).
6. The Grand Hotel should be on your left and the Blackwater River should be on your right.
7. Take the first available parking space and walk the last 100m to the Rowing Club.
From Dublin:
1. Take M8 motorway for CORK Corcaigh.
2. Go past Exit 13 for MITCHELSTOWN Baile Mhistéala, take Exit 14 (signposted R639 FERMOY Mainistir Fhear Maí).
3. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit (signposted FERMOY Mainistir Fhear Maí).
4. Go across the motorway and take the 1st exit off the roundabout (signposted FERMOY Mainistir Fhear Maí).
5. Halfway across the bridge in the town centre, signal right and turn onto Ashe Quay.
6. The Grand Hotel should be on your left and the Blackwater River should be on your right.
7. Take the first available parking space and walk the last 100m to the Rowing Club.
*Note: It's a Sunday so parking is free, as far as I know.
I would also strongly suggest car pooling as there will most likely be few spaces. Please see attached map of Fermoy also.
6. If you have any other questions or problems regarding the swim, please do hesitate to ask by e-mailing me at owentj@gmail.com or calling me on +353 87 2278242.
We look forward to seeing you on the day,
Owen O'Keefe
Event Co-Director
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