here isa report on Lough Mask swim The annual Lough Mask Swim Challenge is complete for the second year and yet again proved its title as a “Challenge”. Conditions were very testing and on the borderline of almost being re routed to the “plan b” swim, however the nod was given after scrupulous consultation between organisers and safety crew and the green light was shown.
The die was cast and the 8km Lough Mask Challenge was the Swimmers and Kayakers Rubicon, from Paddy’s Pub Tourmackeady to Cushlough Bay Ballinrobe.
The first 3-4 km were the hardest for the Swimmers and even more so for the Kayakers as the South Easterly Force 4 winds channelled across the lake and brought a wave onto the Tourmackeady shoreline which was daunting to all involved but the professionalism of The Irish Red Cross Corrib/Mask Search and Rescue Team who were out in force and helped to bring a confidence to those who were about to embark on a journey which would take hours but if successful would last with them for an eternity.
Twenty Swimmers with twenty Kayakers made up the teams and the two groups left the shoreline to great applause from the spectators who were inspired by the feat which the challengers were undertaking to raise vital funds for The Irish Red Cross Corrib/Mask Search and Rescue team. The Swim was almost divided into two missions, the first mission to get across the vastly exposed Tourmackeady side of Lough Mask which had rolling waves which were constantly battering both Swimmers and Kayakers and the second mission to get into the calmer waters of the Ballinrobe side where energy stamina and mental fitness were key to cross the line at Cushlough Bay.
As the expectancy and the air filled with voices that the first Swimmer was arriving around the corner at Cushlough, kids scampered to the highest standing points to get a first glimpse as others stood waiting as five minutes seemed to turn into an eternity, rumour on the shoreline was that Ivan Dixon was just after overtaking his girlfriend Laura Heneghan in Cushlough Bay and a few seconds later the powerful Ivan Dixon turned the corner to a rapturous applause and finished the Challenge in an amazing time of two hours and eight minutes, fishermen looked at their engines in disappointment. There was a steady run of swimmers arriving all the time as the twenty made their way into Folklore. Food was provided to all involved and hot cups of tea were high in demand.
Swimmers in order of finishing- Ivan Dixon, Cian Lynch, Rory o Connell, Nick Skehan, Eugene Hoade, Fergal O Dowd, Stephen Ellis, Sebastien Locteau, Laura Heneghan, Mer Mulling, Tom Treacy, Brendan Lee, Padraig Marrey, Gavan Hennessy, John Craddock, John Mongan, Enda Higgins, Sharon Walsh, Seamus Walsh, Julie Donnellan.
Presentation night is to be held at Gannon’s Hotel and Restaurant Main St. Ballinrobe on the 9th of October at 8pm
Big thanks to Ballinrobe District anglers for the use of their club house and to Eileen Harness and Marian Walsh for providing refreshments and to all the volunteers who helped make this such a successful event.
Lough Mask Swim results 2010
1.vIan Dixon-2 08 19
2.Cian Lynch-2 12 06
3.Rory O Connell-2 12 56
4.Nick Skehan 2 22 45
5.Eugene Hoade 2 32 39
6.Fergal O Dowd 2 33 39
7.Stephen Ellis 2 39 27
8.Sebastien Locteau 2 40 07
9.Laura Heneghan 2 46 44
10.Mer Mulling 2 48 41
11.Tom Treacy 2 48 52
12.BrendanLee 2 55 25
13.Padraig Marrey 2 58 54
14.Gavan Hennessy 3 04 33
15.John Craddock 3 10 40
16.John Mongan 3 10 52
17.Enda Higgins 3 11 12
18.Sharon Walsh 3 11 15
19.Seamus Walsh 3 20 28
20.Julie Donnellan 3 40 18
On Facebook :
The die was cast and the 8km Lough Mask Challenge was the Swimmers and Kayakers Rubicon, from Paddy’s Pub Tourmackeady to Cushlough Bay Ballinrobe.
The first 3-4 km were the hardest for the Swimmers and even more so for the Kayakers as the South Easterly Force 4 winds channelled across the lake and brought a wave onto the Tourmackeady shoreline which was daunting to all involved but the professionalism of The Irish Red Cross Corrib/Mask Search and Rescue Team who were out in force and helped to bring a confidence to those who were about to embark on a journey which would take hours but if successful would last with them for an eternity.
Twenty Swimmers with twenty Kayakers made up the teams and the two groups left the shoreline to great applause from the spectators who were inspired by the feat which the challengers were undertaking to raise vital funds for The Irish Red Cross Corrib/Mask Search and Rescue team. The Swim was almost divided into two missions, the first mission to get across the vastly exposed Tourmackeady side of Lough Mask which had rolling waves which were constantly battering both Swimmers and Kayakers and the second mission to get into the calmer waters of the Ballinrobe side where energy stamina and mental fitness were key to cross the line at Cushlough Bay.
As the expectancy and the air filled with voices that the first Swimmer was arriving around the corner at Cushlough, kids scampered to the highest standing points to get a first glimpse as others stood waiting as five minutes seemed to turn into an eternity, rumour on the shoreline was that Ivan Dixon was just after overtaking his girlfriend Laura Heneghan in Cushlough Bay and a few seconds later the powerful Ivan Dixon turned the corner to a rapturous applause and finished the Challenge in an amazing time of two hours and eight minutes, fishermen looked at their engines in disappointment. There was a steady run of swimmers arriving all the time as the twenty made their way into Folklore. Food was provided to all involved and hot cups of tea were high in demand.
Swimmers in order of finishing- Ivan Dixon, Cian Lynch, Rory o Connell, Nick Skehan, Eugene Hoade, Fergal O Dowd, Stephen Ellis, Sebastien Locteau, Laura Heneghan, Mer Mulling, Tom Treacy, Brendan Lee, Padraig Marrey, Gavan Hennessy, John Craddock, John Mongan, Enda Higgins, Sharon Walsh, Seamus Walsh, Julie Donnellan.
Presentation night is to be held at Gannon’s Hotel and Restaurant Main St. Ballinrobe on the 9th of October at 8pm
Big thanks to Ballinrobe District anglers for the use of their club house and to Eileen Harness and Marian Walsh for providing refreshments and to all the volunteers who helped make this such a successful event.
Lough Mask Swim results 2010
1.vIan Dixon-2 08 19
2.Cian Lynch-2 12 06
3.Rory O Connell-2 12 56
4.Nick Skehan 2 22 45
5.Eugene Hoade 2 32 39
6.Fergal O Dowd 2 33 39
7.Stephen Ellis 2 39 27
8.Sebastien Locteau 2 40 07
9.Laura Heneghan 2 46 44
10.Mer Mulling 2 48 41
11.Tom Treacy 2 48 52
12.BrendanLee 2 55 25
13.Padraig Marrey 2 58 54
14.Gavan Hennessy 3 04 33
15.John Craddock 3 10 40
16.John Mongan 3 10 52
17.Enda Higgins 3 11 12
18.Sharon Walsh 3 11 15
19.Seamus Walsh 3 20 28
20.Julie Donnellan 3 40 18
On Facebook :
