Swimmers overcome Ferryman test
TWO HUNDRED swimmers from across Ireland competed in the second annual Beat The Ferryman Ballyhack to Passage East 600 metre open water swim on June Bank Holiday Sunday last in ideal conditions.
The swim was organised by Passage Hurling Club who couldn’t have wished for a finer summer’s day.
A huge crowd of spectators gathered in Passage and Ballyhack, thoroughly enjoying the day amid a great atmosphere.
The swimmers set out from Ballyhack and made their way across the peninsula, where they were cheered home in Passage.
The first man home in 7 minutes 8 seconds and first overall winner was Eoin Lyons, who is well-known in triathlon circles. The first woman home in second place overall for the second year in succession was Éabha Cox, a native of the Passage area, who was representing Tramore Surf Lifesaving Club. She arrived in a time of 8.12.
The first Passage hurler home was Dylan Carey. The following are the remaining results: Wet Suit Women 1, Éabha Cox 8.12, 2, Nuala Carroll Slade 8.34, 3, Kate Walsh Kilkenny 9.03; Men Wet Suit: 1 Eoin Lyons Waterford Triathlon Club 7.08, 2 Sean Collier 8.30, 3, Ewan Nolke Tramore 8.41, Women Non Wet Suit 1 Sinead Mc Carthy 10.03, 2 Deirdre Ni Ghabhann. Mespil Dublin, 11.46 3 Helen Barry, Barntown, 13.12; Men Non Wet Suit 1, Liam Walsh 14.39, 2, Aidan Brennan Kilkenny Swim Club 15.56 and 3, Robert Duggan Carrick on Suir Triathlon Club 16.01.
The organisers wish to thank Passage East Car Ferry, Harbour Master Captain Darren Doyle, Port of Waterford Company, Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, the Coastguard, Waterford City River Rescue, Carrick on Suir River Rescue, Dunmore East and Fethard RNLI, Waterford Harbour PiIots, Waterford County Fire Services Dunmore East, Garda Adrian Cullinane Passage East, Passage East and Crooke Development Association for a major input, Furlong’s New Geneva Passage, Walter Byrne’s Bar Ballyhack, Clem Jacob Hire, EXCELL Promotions, Cantec Ltd , Waterford Castle, Spinnaker Restaurant Dunmore, The Granary, Peter Flanagan Hurleys. They also wish to thank the many members men and women and supporters of Passage Hurling Club, the residents of Passage and Ballyhack, the competitors and spectators, and the local media.