The annual Martin Duggan Memorial Swim was held on the Blackwater River at Fermoy, Ireland. Despite (or perhaps because of?!?) unfavorable conditions, 42 hardy swimmers, including 22 non-wetsuiters, took part in this 2K freshwater race.
In a great indication of a bright future, 24 of the swimmers were under the age of 18, making this the first competitive open water swim in the Republic of Ireland where more than half of the participants were under 18.
12 swimmers from New Zealand also completed the race that was won by Freddie Bassett of Auckland’s Laser Mount Eden Swim Club in 25:59.6. The Martin Duggan Memorial Shield for the Youngest Swimmer was awarded to 12-year-old Ruth Herlihy of Fermoy SC, who completed the 2K course, sans wetsuit.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.