David Dawson Has A Happy Birthday
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. David Dawson had an unexpectedly great day.
Dawson became the first New Zealander to cross the 21.6-mile Loch Lomond.
The 12 hour 21 minute traverse in Scotland on August 12th was a fundraiser for the Rotorua Community Hospice where Dawson raised more than $8,000.
Chris Sifleet of Swim4miles recalls the crossing, “The conditions were not ideal. We started this off as a training swim as it was a gusty force 3 blowing completely contrary to the Met Office predictions. The first two hours were very tough. Then the wind drop a bit and as per typical, Loch Lomond went around every point on the compass. Dave swam so strongly all the way, the training swim got extended and he did the distance and raised a lot of money for his chosen charity.”
Dawson was escorted by kayakers Tracy Clark, Andy Clark, and Stewart Griffiths, together with the help of Sifleet, on a swim that started on his 50th birthday.
His charity page is here.
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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.
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