By Christopher Myles
The overcast conditions at Clogherhead Beach on Saturday afternoon did little to faze the swimmers who took part in the annual Clogherhead Round the Head Swim on its landmark 15 year anniversary.
After an initial postponement from 8 July due to safety precautions, the brave contingent of partakers were never going to back down a second time.
The coast guard were out in force from the off, but thankfully they were not called into action; by the time the clock had reached the 1 hour mark, all 35 swimmers had safely crossed the finish line to great applause.
During his safety briefing, the chairman of Drogheda Triathlon Club and organiser of the event, Ray Donagh, said that there was little to report from the kayakers who accompanied the swimmers in case of any trouble. Both the skies and the waters were clear, and for the second consecutive year, there was absolutely no sign of jellyfish!
As the claxon sounded on Clogherhead Beach, the participants were in good spirits as they took to the waves to begin their gruelling journey. As always, the 2.5km route spanned the full length of Clogher Head and Port Oriel, taking in the scenic coastline and rock formations. Some swimmers were even met with one or two friendly seals to spur them on as they neared the finish.
Whilst it is made clear that swimmers should never risk the challenge if they don’t feel up to it, the Clogherhead Round the Head Swim is notable in that it accommodates both elite athletes and budding swimmers who seek to challenge themselves.
The swimmers take to the water for the start of the Clogherhead Round the Head Swim.
Whilst many people enjoy the competitiveness of the event, others prefer to put themselves to the test. One thing is for certain, everyone who takes part is made of pretty tough stuff.
First to cross the line was Len McKevitt, who not only won the male (wetsuit) category, but also claimed the overall award for fastest time. He was followed by Blake Boland and Alan Torris who claimed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The women’s (wetsuit) category was closely contested, with Ciara Couzens emerging victorious, not long ahead of Shauna Hogan in second. Fiona McCormack crossed the finish line on crutches after a very commendable 55 minutes to claim the bronze medal.
Cliona Delaney, Julie Murphy and Sophie Lindsay decided to brave the temperatures without wetsuits, and their gamble paid off as they claimed podium spots in the female (skins) category. Cliona simultaneously claimed the prize for fastest overall in the female category. In the male (skins) category, Tony Murphy (3rd) and Cian McKenna (2nd) fell narrowly short of champion Colin Lindsay.
There were plenty of young faces who showed great courage and determination in the junior category. Aidan Martin came flying out first in the junior male (wetsuits) category, and Tegan Lennon claimed the female (wetsuits) medal.
Lots of tired but smiling faces would suggest the event was a resounding success for another year, and credit goes to Ray Donagh and everyone at Drogheda Triathlon Club for their hard work in organising and running the swim.
Massive congratulations also to everyone who took part in the tough swim, and a major thank you to everyone at Irish Water Safety, the Irish Coast Guard, Boyne River Rescue, Clogherhead RNLI Station, and the many kayakers who all gave up their time to ensure the event was safe and enjoyable for all.
As the participants conversed at the finish line and enjoyed some well deserved refreshments courtesy of Paddy Carolan, Ray Donagh made sure to remind everyone of the upcoming Boyne Swim, which is scheduled for 16 September.
