Fergal Somerville

Country: Ireland

Fergal has been the driving force behind the leading and largest mass Ice Mile event in the world. From 2013 to 2018, 47 International Ice Miles have been completed in the annual Eastern Bay Invitational International Ice Mile (in Ireland). Many of the swimmers are well known internationally in the sport of open water swimming (18 English Channel, 11 North Channel, 4 Triple Crown and 2 7-Oceans and their involvement helped elevate ice swimming within the sport.

Fergal has been at the forefront of introducing a new dimension to the sport – multiple swimmers in the water together. The positives are a more enjoyable experience for all plus a much shorter event – which keep safety crews fully attentive over a 45-minute swim period (as opposed to a full day event). Additional safety measures have been developed and implemented to enhance swimmer safety.

The club offers weekly group training sessions for winter swimming in preparation for qualifying for events and completing specific targets including the 1 km and Ice Mile. Medical cover has been provided every year by Doctors Gilliland and Marsh. Two fully equipped ambulances and crew attend the event. Invitees documentation including medical records are reviewed well in advance and all swimmers are assessed just prior to the event and on completion of their swim.

Conditional to receiving an invite to the event swimmers are required to commit to swimming one mile per week in open water over the winter months – for acclimatizing to the falling water temperature and being able to complete the one-mile distance. This serves two purposes – (i) if swimmers are not able to complete a mile in 7C or less they will not be able to complete a mile in under 5C and (ii) for those who complete the distance in declining temperatures increased level of confidence is reached. Preparation is key, but not enough.

In recent years Fergal added further criteria – ones that add to safety without inhibiting the performance of individual swimmers. For example, the wearing of pull-buoys was made mandatory in 2016. Each swimmer has their own designated kayaker and the same kayak club provides cover each year. Each kayaker is briefed on how to recognize deterioration in performance (e.g. frequent rests, adjustment of goggles, questioning progress, etc.).

Swimmers are not allowed to thread water or change stroke. Quick adjustments to goggles or hat are permitted. Kayakers also count stroke rate as they guide their swimmer four times around the square 100 meters a side course. Two to three RIBS are positioned inside the course with individuals constantly watching for any kayakers signaling and/or swimmers who might require assistance / extraction. RIBS are manned by three to four individuals who can recover a swimmer from the lake (without injuring them) and blankets are provided to commence the re-warming process if extraction is required.

Time limits are imposed on swimmers at the completion of each 400-meter lap. The limits of 12, 22 and 32 minutes apply. Not making these times indicates that the swimmers will have difficulty in completing the distance within 40-45 minutes in total and the earlier extraction will reduce discomfort to swimmers. Swimmers are invited on the basis that they can / expect to comfortably complete the mile in approximately 40 minutes.

Fergal helped sponsor and participate in 2015 in a scientific study of performance of ice swimmers in the cold environment offered that is home to ice swimmers. This involved comprehensive Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for musculoskeletal assessment of each volunteer including overall medical diagnosis, physical examination, ECG and ingestion of pill-sized thermometers for assessment of effect in pool and ice swimming. The results were published in a professional journal of Sports and Health and have contributed to developing safety measures for swimmer preparation and recovery from the ice mile (http://fergalsomerville.blogspot.com/2016/10/20161026-welcome-to-jk-research-on- 3rd_55.html). The report was published by the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.

The Eastern Bay Invitational International Ice Mile Swim is sanctioned and insured by Swim Ireland (The FINA governing body) and has received considerable and favourable media coverage. At the 2015 event the President of Swim Ireland, Anne McAdam (English Channel and Gold Medallist in Winter Swimming World Championships), started the swim and presented trophies.

Run on a non-profit basis (swimmers pay €65) are awarded beautiful commemorative

trophies and generally spend the weekend in Dublin

Other Considerations:

Fergal has completed more than 5 ice miles, the English Channel and North Channel (earliest ever in a season at average of 10C)