Swimmers help out local RNLI
SOME 130 swimmers took to the waters on Sunday as part of the Leinster Open Sea swimming schedule.
This was the third year running the event was held for Wicklow RNLI, with €4,200 raised over the previous two years.
The pristine waters of Wicklow Bay and the finish at the iconic Black Castle on Travelahawk Beach makes the event one of the most popular races on the Leinster Open Sea Calendar.
Most of these participating swimmers had competed in the Jones Engineering Dublin Liffey Swim held the previous weekend in Dublin City Centre.
The race also differs from the usual Leinster Open races in that it also includes a wet-suit race.
The starting point was north of the Monkey Pole and could be viewed from the promenade. Crowds also gathered at the Lighthouse at the Old Pier to get a spectacular view of the swimmers all bunched together with only 400m to go.
Scott Morton enjoyed victory on home turf with a clock time of 35:21.
He kept just ahead of Glenalbyn Master’s Courtney McDermott who finished on 35:27.
In third place was Rene Kral of Sandycove with a time of 36:08, followed by Brian Nolan of Clontarf in fourth with a time of 36:50.
Brian McLouughlin of Half Moon Club was fifth on 37:28, while finishing sixth was Barry Murphy of NAC Masters with a time of 37:31.
Neil Murphy was seventh and the NAC Masters members had a time of 37:41.
Linda Clarke of Glenalbyn Masters was the first woman over the finishing line with a time of 37:42. Sabrina Widemer of Eastern Bay wasn’t far behind on 37:46. Orla Walsh had as time of 38:05.
Monica Coll of Templeogue finished on 40:45, while fellow Templeogue club-mate Bronagh Carey had a finishing time of 41:12.