Lough Gill 10km Swim for NW Hospice Sligo

promethius

Hey
Wanted to let people know this was on.
Its a 10km Charity Race across lough gill in aid of the Hospice in Sligo on 11th August 2012
It's being organised by local volunteers, there is no commerical aspect to it and no one is making a profit.
(Just to differentiate from other commercial for profit events being run about the place)

Over €11,000 was raised last year for them and it was the winner of the Irish Long Distance Swim Association Swim of the Year.

There's a promotional video for it here

And the website is www.loughgillswim.com
Entry is opening soon, it's a great cause and now growing into its second year. This is the lake that inspired Yeats to his most famous poem, the lake isle of innisfree.

I did it last year it's epic, swimming along surrounded by hills of pine trees, feels like a different world.

Places will be limited so keep an eye on the website.

If anyone is interested in helping in terms of sponsorship or help PM me.
Cheers
P

mad m

When is this on?

Ha....Looked at last years results and seen Richard Molloy came in 1st(non wetsuit)...Know him well,fair play to him.

okane1

Looks like a very nice swim. There is something special about swimming in a lake.
What was the water temperature last year?
With it been peat lined, I assume the water is very dark? Have yee any of those fecken lamprey eels which are becoming very common in fresh water lakes?

promethius

mad m wrote: »

When is this on?

Ha....Looked at last years results and seen Richard Molloy came in 1st(non wetsuit)...Know him well,fair play to him.

nice guy richard alright
it's on 11th august

promethius

okane1 wrote: »

Looks like a very nice swim. There is something special about swimming in a lake.
What was the water temperature last year?
With it been peat lined, I assume the water is very dark? Have yee any of those fecken lamprey eels which are becoming very common in fresh water lakes?

think it was almost same as sea last yr maybe about 15 degs or something?

never heard of any problems with eels

it's a weird orangey colour when the light shines through it, was prob 3 meters visibility in parts, then less than 1 meter in others.

okane1

We have those lamprey eels in Killarney. They dont bit, just suck and stick to you. In a wetsuit you wouldn't know they are there until you get out and its hanging of ya. In togs, you feel them and you have to pull them of, by their heads and throw them away!! It can ruin your swimming, can play on your mind from time to time.

I want to do one long swim this year, might look into this.

mad m

For some reason though, I think the Liffey swim is on around the same time...hmmm. Calender is out in couple of weeks so will know for sure....Ugh those eels sound brutal!!!

promethius

okane1 wrote: »

We have those lamprey eels in Killarney. They dont bit, just suck and stick to you. In a wetsuit you wouldn't know they are there until you get out and its hanging of ya. In togs, you feel them and you have to pull them of, by their heads and throw them away!! It can ruin your swimming, can play on your mind from time to time.

I want to do one long swim this year, might look into this.

man that's rank! properly.
don't be telling me stuff like this leading into the event :eek:

promethius

mad m wrote: »

For some reason though, I think the Liffey swim is on around the same time...hmmm. Calender is out in couple of weeks so will know for sure....Ugh those eels sound brutal!!!

sound, you might let us know when the calendar is out.
it's going to be a lot of local swimmers that wouldn't be taking part in liffey so it wouldn't be a problem if they clashed but thanks for heads up.

promethius

some of the committee were on local radio (Ocean FM) about the swim on sunday, interview available on homepage or here
one of them is an english channel swimmer

promethius

some of the swimmers took to the lake on saturday in their togs to test the waters and get some photos for the papers.

MyWebPersona

Looks fantastic if I thought I would make 10k I would be there but unfortunately a bit beyond my limit just yet.

promethius

heres an aerial shot of the swim route for the lake and river

mad m

^^ That's a great aerial shot...looks unreal. It actually looks easy but it's far from it...

promethius

yeah it does look a lot smaller from the air alright!
i was up with mark capilitan and gerry from the aero club to get these shots. they both gave their time for free since it's for the hospice.

promethius

training video of the swimmers last week in the garavogue river preparing for the 10km swim

banjobongo

I entered online for this event yesterday, I will try it "skins", geting nervous just thinkin about it, the longest swim I have done to date is a 5K, so I have to start serious traning for it, thats my summer plans sorted!
BTW I first saw this event advertised/mentioned in this forum on boards.ie.....

promethius

nice one bb!
some of the guys were training in the river/lake last week and reckoned it was warmer than the sea a few days beforehand. now the sea has been freezing of late so wouldn't say the lake was "warm"

lot of the local swimmers are also doing the warrior of the sea 6km from rosses point to strand hill on july 14th which is great preparation for the big one in august

loads more stuff about the swim on www.loughgillswim.com including videos, photos of the course from the air and more.

banjobongo

promethius wrote: »

nice one bb!
some of the guys were training in the river/lake last week and reckoned it was warmer than the sea a few days beforehand. now the sea has been freezing of late so wouldn't say the lake was "warm"

lot of the local swimmers are also doing the warrior of the sea 6km from rosses point to strand hill on july 14th which is great preparation for the big one in august

loads more stuff about the swim on www.loughgillswim.com including videos, photos of the course from the air and more.

thanks for that!

promethius

if anyones thinking of entering, only 4 places left on www.loughgillswim.com

banjobongo

phew I just made it in time ....how many are entering in all? Any idea of the breakdown of wetsuits/skins?

promethius

good man, there are a total of 50 places with a breakdown of about 60% wetsuit and 40% skins. most of the wetsuit swimmers from sligo triathlon club and a few other local clubs.

lough gill swim

one of our swimmers has set this up to help raise as much as possible for the hospice in sligo http://www.mycharity.ie/event/shane_o_dohertys_event