A lifeguard's off-duty training in Dublin Bay and a view from the window of an architect's office overlooking the Bay were factors in exciting triumphs for Dermot O'Brien and Suzanne Kelly in the annual Irish Times sponsored Dun Laoghaire Harbour swims yesterday.
O'Brien, a 20-year-old science student at Tallaght RTC and architect Kelly delighted the large crowds thronging the harbour walls as they surged to great victories for the premier titles.
O'Brien does life-guard duty at nearby Seapoint and kept in condition over the past couple of months by regularly swimming from the Martello Tower to the harbour wall and back.
Kelly, a 29-year-old architect at offices on the seafront could not help keeping the women's 1,000 metres course in her mind all summer. Both swam on smooth front crawl strokes throughout. O'Brien from the ESB Club entered the water at seven minutes 30 seconds and produced a tactically sound race to take the lead for the first time around the band stand. "I didn't think I had it won at that stage. I expected Steve Saunders or George Dunne to come at me before the finish."
O'Brien need have had no fear. His time of 33:47 was good enough to give him a winning margin of about nine metres from Dave Turner of St Vincents with Paul O'Flynn of CRC in third place.
It was O'Brien's first major open-sea win after six years of endeavour. The most disappointed competitor was scratchman Steve Saunders who failed in his attempt to smash the course record by some 19 seconds. Yet, the Terenure College man finished a creditable fifth in 26:29. The team award went to St Vincents. An excellent swim was produced by Kevin Williamson, a former winner, who finished sixth. He was coach to Saunders for the record attempt.
Kelly was closely challenged by Clare McDonagh of Terenure College and Anne Cummins of Millenium who clocked the fastest time 17:04.
Glenalbyn proved the outstanding club filling the 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th places.
Men's Race (1 1/2 miles approx) - 1, D O'Brien (ESB) (at 7:30) 33:47; 2, D Turner (St Vincents (at 12:00) 29:41; 3, P O'Flynn (CRC) (at 10:30) 31:14; 4, T Cruise (Terenure College) (at 12:00) 29:49; 5, S Saunders (Terenure College) (at scr, 15:20) 26:29; 6, K Williamson (Terenure College)(at 13:30) 28:23); 7, C Walsh (Half Moon) (at 10:10) 31:49; 8, I Murphy (St Vincents) (at 9:15) 32:51; 9, P O'Driscoll (Dublin) (at 4:00) 38:08; 10, M Boyle (King Hos) (at 11:00) 31:08. Fastest time - Steve Saunders (Terenure College 26:29. Team Prize - St Vincents (Turner Murphy, C Cassidy 16th, Paul Reynolds 18th). Veterans - Frank Carroll (Sandycove) (17th).
Women's Race (1,000 metres approx) - 1, S Kelly (Otter) (at 7:00) 19:57; 2, C McDonagh (Terenure College) (at 8:00) 19:02; 3, A Cummins (Millennium) (at 10:00) 17:04; 4, H Butterfield (Glenalbyn) (at 9:15) 17:53; 5, E Mulholland (Glenalbyn) (at 9:15) 17:56; 6, M Rose Keegan (Otter) (at 9:15) 17:58; 7, C O'Dwyer (Dublin) (at 7:45) 19:29; 8, L Mitchell (Glenalbyn) (at 9:45) 17:29; 9, F McDonagh (Terenure College ) (at 8:45) 18:30; 10, O Furey (Glenalbyn) at 9:50) 18:05. Team prize - Glenalbyn (Butterfield, E Mulholland, L Mitchell, O Furey). Fastest time - Anne Cummins 17:04. Veterans - A McAdam (KH).
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