Muckross Lake Swim 2010

Dundag Masters

OPEN WATER SWIMMING

Muckross Lake Open Water Swim Sun August 22 2010

The Killarney Lions Club this year staged Killarney’s first successful triathlon. Now in association with Dundag Masters the Lions Club under new Lions President Martin O’Brien is staging Killarney’s first 5km Open Water Swim. The popularity of Open Water Swimming has grown in recent years as people wish to escape the confines of swimming pools and explore the challenges of swimming in open water. The aim of Dundag Masters is to promote safe open water swimming. This year’s event is listed on the Swim Ireland Open Water calendar. The pollution free waters and natural beauty surrounding Muckross Lake offer the perfect stage for such an event.

In 2009 the organizers recognized that the event should have a more inclusive element for participants who would prefer a shorter distance. For this reason we added a 1 mile swim from the shore of Dinis Car Park to the pier at Dinis Cottage. The 1 mile event was by far our most popular and suits those who would not be comfortable swimming across the open lake and would prefer to follow the contour of the shore line to Dinis Cottage. Many of last year’s swimmers have gained enough confidence to participate in triathlons and in swims in excess of 3km.

NB. In order to qualify for the 1 mile swim, participants must have completed at least 50 continuous lengths of a 25 meter pool recently.

Traditionally the swims by locals in Muckross Lake consisted of a 3km swim across the lake from Dinis to Dundag done for the challenge and for fun. Locals such as Danny Lyne, John Mike Lyne and John Beasley were among the first to cross the lake. In keeping with this tradition thirty swimmers swam successfully from Dundag to Dinis Cottage in 2008. In 2009 we also added a more challenging 4km element for swimmers who were trying to increase their distance. The 4 km swim raises the bar a little higher and adds an extra challenge for those who would like to push beyond the usual 3km swims.

NB. To qualify for the 3km and 4km swim participants need to have completed at least a 2km swim in the past 12 months.

The 5km element to the swim this year to brings the distance up to Olympic Open Water Distance.

NB. To qualify for the 5km swim participants need to have completed at least a 3km open water swim within the last 12 months.

The swim will be marked out by 4 large yellow regatta buoys at turns, the swim will follows the safest possible course around the shore of the lake. There are three entry and two exit points. The 5km swim will start by the shore of Torc mountain. The 4km and 1 mile swim will start from the shore below Dinis Car Park. The final 3km of the swim will start at Dinis Cottage Pier where 1 mile swim will also finish. The other swimmers will continue around the lake to the finish at Dundag Beach. The water rescue units of Inbher Sceine, and a team of kayakers including experienced open water swimmers from Dundag Masters will supervise the swim to make it as safe as possible.

Proceeds of this year’s swim will be in aid of Inbher Sceine Kerry Water Rescue Sub Aqua Club and the RNLI at Valentia and Dingle.

Entry fees can be paid on the morning of the swim during registration

1mile €20,

3km; 4km and 5km €30