Dubliner wins swim for life
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Gerard Carthy Celebrates after arriving in Ballycastle first with a time of 3 hours 4 minutes and 54 seconds after the swim for life swim from Rathlin Island to Ballycastle.
A Dublin man clinched victory in last weekend's gruelling endurance swim across the Sea of Moyle, from Rathlin to Ballycastle.
Gerard Carty was in the water for three hours, four minutes, and 54 seconds before finally reaching the dry land of Ballycastle harbour to be crowned swim for life champion.
Gerard, last year's winner of the Gannaway Rock long distance swim from Rostrevor to Warrenpoint, said he nearly felt like giving up.
He said: "It was an incredible event. I'm just happy that I finished it. I stopped to take a drink and I could hardly hold the bottle or drink. I was so cold, my teeth were chattering that much I could barely speak."
19 competitors, including 15 men and four men set of from Rathlin Island's Church Bay, but the harsh conditions proved to much for some, and only five swimmers crossed the finish line.
Ballycastle triathlete Ciaran McGinn withdrew from the race at Rue Point, saying he found the conditions 'too tough'.
Last August, the 24-year-old completed the swim in three hours and ten minutes wearing a wet suit but in Saturday's competition only swimming trunks or swimsuits only were allowed.
Ciaran said: "It was a completely different swim today. I swam for one hour and 45 minutes and I only got as far as Rue Point. It would take me 40 minutes to do that on a good, calm day. The conditions are just about manageable for the guys that finish it."
The swim was organised by Kenny Boyd, who last year, became the first person to complete the swim from Rathlin to Ballycastle for 30 years. He decided to stage the swim to raise awareness on how to reduce your carbon footprint and the effects of climate change on the Earth.
Ned Denison, an American living in Cork, was the second male to finish the race. He stepped from the water in a time of three hours, 15 minutes and five seconds.
Sisters Dee and Liane Llewellyn travelled from Bradford in England, to take part in the race.
Dee has held the male and female record for swimming 21.6 miles across Loch Lomond in Scotland since 2004.
Liane was the first female to complete the race, coming in three hours, 47 minutes and 57 seconds after setting of.
She said she was really happy to have taken part in the event, even if she had to endure jellyfish stings to her face.
Dee followed close behind hers sister, coming in almost 12 minutes later.
The final contestant to complete the Swim For Life '08 was George Meenan at 4 hours 14 minutes and 40 seconds.
