Galway Hospice was the big winner as Predator Triathlon Club members and friends including the Atlantic Masters, Swim West and NAC Masters, Dublin took to the pool for their annual 5km Charity Swim.
Held at the Kingfisher Club in Renmore, 56 swimmers took to the pool for the fundraising event, which raised a staggering €6,200 for Galway Hospice.
As an east Galway based club, Predator Triathlon is eager to give something back to its local community, and over the last two years more than €19,000 has been generated for local charities by club activities. This event was started by Predator member Niall Callanan three years ago.
The club is fully voluntary and is run by members from Loughrea, Athenry, Craughwell and Clarinbridge areas and new members are always welcome.
This particular event was held at the end of November at Kingfisher and the 5km comprised of a mind boggling 200 lengths of the pool, all of which were completed by the 56 keen swimmers.
Predator Triathlon Club has both senior and junior branches, and of the 56 brave souls taking part, 20 of them came from the junior club and were the standout performers on the day.
The club has the largest junior membership in Ireland with over 100 members and a waiting list to join. There are over 100 senior members from all parts of East Galway.
As well as fundraising for the event in the traditional manner, the club held a baking sale to coincide with the marathon efforts in the pool. Hearty thanks to Kingfisher Gym for their use of the facility, without which the charity event could never have taken place.
Club members have been training throughout the winter for the upcoming series of races that starts in the spring, but specialised training for the charity swim commenced four weeks prior to the big day.
They wish to say thanks to the Kingfisher Club and Brian Clancy for providing the venue for training as well as the swim on the big day.
Although Predator Triathlon club is barely ten years old, the club’s juniors have proved themselves both at local and national level. The club was named runner-up in the recent Triathlon Ireland Club of the Year vote.
This annual charity swim was a huge success and the club presented a cheque of €6,200 to Galway Hospice on Sunday last (December 18 ) to coincide with its Christmas bike ride.
Completing the swim was a terrific physical challenge for all the 56 participants and is a great personal achievement. Their efforts deserve the highest praise, but thanks also to everyone who supported by donating money for a great cause.
For more information on the 5km charity swim visit www.5kswim.com and for more on Predator Triathlon Club go to www.predatortriclub.ie
