Swimmers warm to ice challenge 

IMAGINE swimming a mile in water that is less than five degrees, wearing only togs, hat and goggles. 

This Saturday, February 1, Dublin’s Eastern Bay Swim Team will assemble 20 plus renowned winter swimming athletes at Clontarf Baths for the 8th Eastern Bay Invitational International Ice Mile Swim.

Each swimmer will attempt to achieve the unique milestone of an international ice mile at the Northside venue.  

Ice swimming is an extreme sport and only top swimmers are invited to the event. Strict qualifying criteria are upheld including participants having to undergo an ECG and a medical assessment. 

Fewer than 500 swimmers worldwide hold the distinction of ‘International Ice Miler’. Eastern Bay’s Ice Mile Swims have produced 57 ice miles (more than 10 percent of the total) including a women’s world record (Sabrina Wiedmer 25:51 in 2014). 

Fergal Somerville, from Beaumont, who is involved in organising the event, said: “We are hugely grateful to our medical professionals, doctors, paramedics and ambulance crews without whom the event would not take place.”

The club has hosted swimmers from Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, US, Australia, Poland and Italy for past events. 

Clontarf Baths reopened in 2018 after some 30 years and is an excellent outdoor facility for this unique event. If you’re in the area this Saturday, pop down and give the hardy participants a warm reception!