1 week till Walrus Swim - 2 weeks till Nessie - bit longer till Hellespont!

Hello all!!

Hope the training is going well.

It’s now just over a week to go to the 40ft Walruses’ inaugural race…. on the 28^th June. Whether you are a doggy-paddler or attempting to beat Paudie “the skin suit” Murphy, come on down and give it a go. It is just over 1km, from the East Pier to Sandycove. We hope to have a successful first event and are looking to make this a permanent fixture on the Open Sea calendar. Some of the guys have put a lot of time and effort into organising this, so it would be good to see local club support. I might even come out of retirement for this one!!

And of course that is followed quickly by…. THE NESSIE CHALLENGE… on the 4^th July. Really looking forward to this swim… hope everyone’s training is coming along well. Looked at the original training schedule for the first time in a while… a lot of swimming to do over the next 2 weeks!! And don’t forget those sponsorship cards - looking to top last year’s amount.

Like last year, anyone attempting the swim should have at least one freshwater lake swim completed before heading for Scotland. Buoyancy is a lot different in fresh water than in the sea and we don’t want anyone getting any surprises on the shores of Loch Ness.

Dips and swims over the next week….

40ft at 12 on Saturday – come on down for a dip… or attempt to get some practise in for next week’s race. Some of the guys are of to the waves in Kerry but there should be the usual crew around.

With the tides next week, the mornings look like the 40ft will be the spot. Can’t make Monday but hope to be on the water most other mornings. If anyone is interested in a good lunch time swim, the tide will be perfect at Seapoint on Tue or Wed… maybe down to Blackrock baths and back. Think it is a little over 2.5ks??

And don’t forget the fresh water swims… Lough Bray has been suggested. As many as possible of the Nessie swimmers should aim for at least one evening this week and one next week…. How does 7pm on Wednesday work for everybody?? Or suggest suitable time/day. Spectacular spot for a swim….. so well worth the drive.

Finally, well done to the Walruses who took part in the Glenalbyn Masters Swim on Tuesday… think we had at least 2 top 10 finishers!!!

Happy paddling!

Damon

To find Lough Bray, see the below link…

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lough+Bray+Lower,+County+Wicklow,+Republic+of+Ireland&sll=53.904338,-4.042969&sspn=18.15531,39.375&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=FbyHKwMdSdqf_w&split=0&ll=53.185542,-6.298513&spn=0.008988,0.019226&t=h&z=16

8000 words

Sandycove swim 2mo - Sponsorship Forms - Nessie Hotel - Your Help

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim 08

YoYo,

I hope you had a fab sunny long weekend. I'd a big burnt nose for days after.

Nessie & Hellespont swimmers I trust your training is flying along!

The Sea Swim Calendar starts 2mo:) Sandycove at 12. If you plan racing get there for 11.15 or so because registration for the race can take a little while. If you havent registered with the club yet but want to race come along and we'll sort it out. Sundays swim is in Portmarnock at 12.15 and there'll be a few of us there if you fancy coming to that 1.

Sponsorship forms will be with you via email this weekend! So you can start hitting up your friends and family. Last year as a club we raised €10,000 which was absolutely savage "AbSav". Climate is a little different this year but hopefully there'll be acouple of quids raised.

Hotel for Nessie - gettem booked if you aint got it done yet. Loch Ness Lodge Hotel NOT the 5 star Loch Ness Lodge.

Sponsor for Our Race - As you know we are running a race on the 28th of June from the back of the east Pier in Dun Laoghaire to Sandycove pier. It's a 1.1km swim and we expect about 150 swimmers. We need a sponsor for prizes! We need 13 Prizes on the day, so if you have any suggestions of sources of prizes on the day do let us know, sponsors can pollute Sandycove beach with their banners and stuff. Cheers.

Man with a Van on Race Day- On the Race Day we also require a man with a van to take swimmers gear from the pier to sandycove. Do you know anybody who could assist? Cheers again.

The dip in the 40 foot at 12 will be going ahead as normal for anybody not racing around the corner in Sandycove so come on down if not for one for the other!

Dont mention Blue Flags.

Happy Paddling,

Alfonso