Catherine Pendleton, known as The Merthyr Mermaid, is a 50-year-old Welsh open water swimmer specializing in ice swimming from Sennybridge, Wales.
Open Water Swimming Highlights
Between 21-28 January 2023, captain Ger Kennedy, Colm Morris, John C. Curley, Vincent Donegan, and John Myatt will compete against captain Cath Pendleton, Niamh McCarthy, Sian Clement, Caroline Saxon, Sam Farrow, and reserve Nicola Such in an extreme winter 33.5 km English Channel relay competition, escorted by pilots Mike Oram and Lance Oram. All the swimmers had to qualify by completing three one-hour swims in water temperatures 8°C or lower over a 7-hour period.
She appeared on the Tough Girl Podcast.
She was nominated for the 2021 Wild Swimmer of the Year Award.
She completed in the 1 km ice swimming race at the 2016 Big Chill Swim at the Low Wood Bay Marina, Windermere, England in 6.4ºC water
She participated in the 2016 Polish Championships in Winter Swimming.
She finished 11th in the 500m freestyle at the 4rd International Ice Swimming Association World Championship held in Murmansk, Russia in March 2019.
On 11 February 2017 at the Ice Cup & GB Ice Swimming Championships at The Cruin, Loch Lomond, she competed in the 100m freestyle in 2:39 in 4.20°C water.
On 21 January 2018 at the Dutch open ice swimming Championships in Zwembad Waterdam, Volendam, Netherlands, she competed in the 500m freestyle in 9:40:87 in 3.60°C water.
On 21 January 2018 at the Dutch open ice swimming Championships in Zwembad Waterdam, Volendam, Netherlands, she competed in the 200m freestyle in 3:43:48 in 3.60°C water.
On 18 March 2019 at the IISA III World Championships in Murmansk, Russia, she competed in the 500m freestyle in 10:00:50 in 0.00°C water.
Ice Miles
1st Ice Mile: On 30 January 2016, she completed an Ice Mile in Keepers Pond, Blaenavon, Wales in 4.40°C water and 2.40°C air temperature, covering 1.15 miles in 39:16.
2nd Ice Mile: On 4 February 2017, she completed an Ice Mile in Eastern Bay, Lough Dan, Ireland in 4.53°C water and 9.00°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 35:06.
3rd Ice Mile: On 6 January 2018, she completed an Ice Mile in Hatfield, England in 4.10°C water and 3.50°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 35:00.
4th Ice Mile: On 19 January 2018, she completed an Ice Mile in a 50m pool Volendam, Holland in 3.93°C water and 0.90°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 32:26.
5th Ice Mile: On 10 February 2018, she completed an Ice Mile in Bardowie Loch, Scotland in 3.30°C water and -0.70°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 34:07.
6th Ice Mile: On 26 January 2019, she completed an Ice Mile in Hatfield, Doncaster, UK in 4.77°C water and 5.70°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 37:04.
7th Ice Mile: On 31 January 2020, she completed an Ice Mile in Lake Aguelmam Azegza, Morocco in 4.77°C water and 1.40°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 38:33.
8th Ice Mile: On 22 February 2020, she completed an Ice Mile, a Zero Ice Mile, in the Southern Ocean in Hanusse Bay, Antarctica in 0.03°C water and -3.20°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile as part of the Antarctica 2020 International Swim in 32:54 and was highlighted in a BBC Wales documentary called The Merthyr Mermaid at 66.60°S.
9th Ice Mile: On 19 February 2022, she completed an Ice Mile in Lake Worthersee, Klagenfurt, Austria in 4.17°C water and 7.00°C air temperature, covering 1.00 mile in 35:12 at 435m altitude at 46.62°N.
Ice Kilometers
1st Ice Kilometer: On 20 February 2016 at the IISA Great Britain IK in Andark Lake, Southampton, UK, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 19:24 in 5.00°C water and 0.00°C air temperature.
2nd Ice Kilometer: On 21 January 2017 at the World Cup, Polish Championships in Katowice, Pland, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 21:47 in 1.50°C water and 0.00°C air temperature.
3rd Ice Kilometer: On 11 February 2017 at the Ice Cup & GB Ice Swimming Championships in The Cruin, Loch Lomond, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 25:23 in 4.20°C water and 0.90°C air temperature.
4th Ice Kilometer: On 21 January 2018 at the Dutch open ice swimming in Zwembad Waterdam, Volendam, Netherlands, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 19:41:37 in 3.60°C water and 0.30°C air temperature.
5th Ice Kilometer: On 25 February 2018 at the IISA GB Championships in Hatfield Outdoor Activity Center, UK, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 19:39:25 in 3.60°C water and 1.10°C air temperature.
6th Ice Kilometer: On 18 March 2019 at the International Ice Swimming Association World Championship in Murmansk, Russia, she completed an Ice Kilometer in 20:09:47 in 0.00°C water and -6.30°C air temperature.
On 28 December 2019 at the Amstel Ice Swim in Amsterdam, Netherlands, she swam 1000m in 23:29:60 in 5.30°C water.
